What Amnav Maritime does

AmNav Maritime, LLC is a privately held tugboat and harbor services provider headquartered in Oakland, California, founded in 1976 and operating as a subsidiary of the Saltchuk family of companies. The company delivers a portfolio of marine services including ship-assist and docking support (approximately 75% of business), tanker and barge escorts, harbor and offshore towing, marine construction support, salvage, 24/7 emergency response, military vessel operations, shipyard vessel assist, crew boat services, and logistics for oversized equipment. Service delivery relies on a diversified fleet of approximately 13 vessels, including ASD-90 ship-assist tugs (Sarah Avrick, 6,900 hp), Dolphin-class reverse-tractor tugs (Revolution, 5,080 hp), and conventional twin-screw equipment, with horsepower typically exceeding 5,000 per vessel and recent Tier 4 emissions-compliant repowers and newbuilds. Operations are conducted under direct enterprise contracts with shipping lines, port authorities, terminal operators, government/military clients, and industrial operators at major U.S. West Coast ports including San Francisco Bay (Port of Oakland, the 8th-busiest U.S. container terminal at ~2.26M TEUs annually), Los Angeles/Long Beach, and Tacoma. The business is run on a 24/7 dispatch model with safety credentials including AWO Responsible Carrier Program certification and ISM Code Voluntary Document of Compliance (ABS-audited).

Name

Amnav Maritime

Legal name

AmNav Maritime, LLC

Website

https://amnav.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

1976

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

AmNav Maritime is a private West Coast tugboat and harbor services provider, founded in 1976 and owned by Saltchuk, serving shipping lines, port authorities, military, and industrial clients across San Francisco Bay, Los Angeles/Long Beach, and Tacoma with a 13-vessel fleet.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Headquarters

HQ city

Oakland

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Infrastructure, Supply Chain, Technology or R&D, Marketing or Sales

Revenue model

1. Marine and Harbor Tugboat Services: AmNav generates revenue through service contracts for ship-assist, tanker and barge escorts, harbor towing, marine construction support, salvage, emergency response, military operations, shipyard vessel assist, logistics for oversized equipment, and vessel and barge towing. Ship assist accounts for approximately 75% of business. Services are contracted directly with ports, shipping lines, and industrial operators on a per-job or contract basis.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels7 records

Core offering

AmNav Maritime provides marine and harbor tugboat services along the U.S. West Coast, primarily ship-assist, tanker and barge escorts, harbor and offshore towing, marine construction support, salvage, emergency response, military operations, shipyard vessel assist, and oversized-equipment logistics. The company operates a fleet of approximately 13 vessels—including ASD/Z-Drive tractor tugs, Dolphin-class reverse-tractor vessels, and conventional twin-screw equipment—delivered 24/7 under direct contract with ports, shipping lines, and government/military clients.

Product overview

AmNav Maritime is a leading provider of marine and harbor services operating primarily in the San Francisco Bay area with expanded operations in Los Angeles/Long Beach. The company offers a comprehensive portfolio of maritime services including ship assist services, tanker and barge escorts, harbor and offshore towing, emergency response, salvage, military operations, and vessel/barge towing. The service offering is delivered through a diverse fleet of approximately 13 vessels with horsepower in excess of 5,000, including ASD/Z-Drive tractor tugs and conventional twin-screw equipment. Key named vessels include the Revolution (5,080-hp reverse-tractor Dolphin-class), Sarah Avrick (ASD-90 with 6,900 hp), Jamie Renea, Sandra Hugh, and the Z-Series tugs. The company operates 24/7 dispatch operations and is part of the Saltchuk family of companies.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Ship Assist Services Providing precision maneuvering and docking support for ships entering or leaving port, ensuring safe navigation in tight or congested waterways.
• Tanker and Barge Escorts Escorting fuel tankers and barges to reduce risk during transit, providing added control and readiness for emergencies or navigation challenges.
• Harbor and Offshore Towing Towing vessels within harbors or over longer offshore distances, including vessel relocation, dredging operations support, and equipment transport.
• Emergency Response Available around the clock for urgent marine incidents including vessel breakdowns, fire suppression, oil spills, and search-and-rescue support.
• Marine Construction Support Assisting marine construction projects with tug services for positioning equipment, transporting materials, and stabilizing barges and floating platforms.
• Shipyard Vessel Assist Supporting shipyard operations by moving vessels between dry docks, berths, or service bays with accuracy and care.
• Salvage Rapid-response capabilities for recovering stranded, sunken, or disabled vessels, often under challenging conditions or timelines.
• Military Operations and Warship Assist Partnering with naval forces to assist in berthing, unberthing, and maneuvering military vessels safely and discreetly within port facilities.
• Vessel and Barge Towing
• Port Security and Safety Escorting Supporting law enforcement and port authorities by escorting high-value or sensitive vessels, monitoring traffic, and enhancing maritime security protocols.
• Deck Barge Services
• Crew Boat Services
• Logistics for Oversized Equipment Specialized logistics services for transporting oversized equipment via marine vessels and barges.
• Sarah Avrick (ASD-90 Tug) ASD-90 ship assist tug in the AmNav fleet, equipped with two MTU EPA Tier 4 diesels generating approximately 6,900 horsepower and 95 tons of bollard pull; built by Nichols Brothers Boat Builders with design by Jensen Maritime.
• Revolution (Dolphin-class Tug) 5,080-horsepower, 73-foot Dolphin-class reverse-tractor tug designed by Robert Allan Ltd., built in 2006 at Foss Maritime Company shipyard in Rainier, Oregon; features Rolls-Royce US205 P20 z-drives and Markey DEPGF-42 electric winch; repowered with Tier 4 engines in 2024.

Quantifiable outcome

• Port of Oakland handles ~2.26 million TEUs annually, supported by AmNav fleet
• +3 more outcomes

Named customers2 records

Segments5 records

Ideal customer profiles5 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature5 records

Partnerships

Three partnerships are on record, tiered minor and core.

• Brusco Tug & BargeminorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ Distributor · 1 January 2017AmNav charters tugs from Brusco Tug & Barge of Longview, WA. The Teresa Brusco (built by Diversified Marine, 78.1 x 30.4 ft, 4,750 hp, 60+ long tons bollard pull) works under AmNav charter for containership docking contracts, including the Tacoma, WA contract won by AmNav.
• Foss MaritimecoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2017Foss Maritime is AmNav's sister company within the Saltchuk family of companies. Both companies share newbuild programs (e.g., the four ASD-90 tugs from Nichols Brothers) and coordinate fleet operations across the U.S. West Coast. AmNav's port manager Capt. Brad Westlund noted operational coordination between the companies.
• American Waterways Operators (AWO)coreOthers · 1 January 2000AmNav has been a member of the American Waterways Operators since August 2000 and complies with the AWO Responsible Carrier Program, which covers Management and Administration, Equipment and Inspections, and Human Factors to maintain best safety performance in the industry.

Scale indicators6 records

Recent moves7 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• Foss Maritime: Sister company of AmNav within Saltchuk, operating harbor tugs, ship-assist, and ocean towing on the U.S. West Coast, Hawaii, and Alaska. Direct operational overlap and shared newbuild programs (e.g., RApport 2600 escort tugs) make it the most comparable peer.
• Crowley Maritime: Major U.S. maritime operator providing harbor towing, ship-assist, and vessel escort services at multiple West Coast and Gulf ports. Direct overlap with AmNav's ship-assist and barge escort business lines and target customers (port authorities, shipping lines).
• McAllister Towing: Privately held U.S. harbor tug operator providing ship-assist, escort, and barge towing services on the East and West Coasts. Comparable in fleet composition (ASD tractor tugs) and customer base (shipping lines, port authorities).
• Moran Towing: Established U.S. harbor towing and ship-assist operator with East and Gulf Coast concentration but expanding into select West Coast and international ports. Comparable service mix (ship-assist, tanker escorts) and fleet type (ASD/Z-Drive tractor tugs).
• Sause Bros. West Coast-based tug and barge operator providing ship-assist, harbor towing, and coastwise transportation from California to Alaska. Directly competes with AmNav at several West Coast ports and shares the multi-port U.S. West Coast footprint.
• Harley Marine Services: West Coast tug and barge operator with ship-assist, harbor towing, and petroleum transport services along the Pacific Coast. Comparable in geographic focus and customer base (shipping lines, terminals, and government/military clients).
• Brusco Tug & Barge: Pacific Northwest tug and barge operator that also charters the Teresa Brusco to AmNav for the Tacoma contract. Overlaps directly with AmNav in ship-assist tug services and is a fleet partner as well as a peer in the same geography.
• Bisso Marine: U.S. tug, salvage, and marine construction support operator with ship-assist and harbor towing services. Comparable in service mix — particularly salvage, emergency response, and marine construction support, which AmNav also offers.
• Baydelta Maritime: San Francisco Bay-based tug and barge operator providing ship-assist, harbor towing, and coastwise transportation. Direct regional competitor to AmNav in the Bay Area and a key adjacency in the same primary market.

Broad incumbents

• Kirby Corporation: Largest U.S. inland marine transportation operator with a smaller offshore/harbor tug presence. Although predominantly inland-focused, its marine services segment overlaps with AmNav's tug-based service model at the broad industry level.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat6 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Facebookfacebook.com/amnavmaritime
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/amnav-maritime-services
• Instagraminstagram.com/amnavmaritime

Compliance2 records

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles4 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Amnav Maritime