What Stevens Towing does

Stevens Towing Company, Inc. is a fourth-generation, family-owned marine transportation and shipyard operator headquartered at Yonges Island, South Carolina, founded in 1913 to ferry produce and passengers from local barrier islands into Charleston. Today the company runs inland, coastwise, and ocean towing services across the East, West, and Gulf Coasts of the United States, the Western Rivers, the Great Lakes, the Caribbean, and select international ports, with a fleet of 13 towboats (400–2,000 HP), more than 50 barges (hopper, tank, deck, crane, and ABS), several 500-ton floating cranes including the Savannah Giant and Ocean Ranger, an 820-metric ton travel lift, a 1,800-ton marine railway, and the US Flag Jones Act ship M/V Coastal Venture.

The company operates three physical facilities — Yonges Island Shipyard (SC, dry-docking and full-service vessel repair including nuclear-class certified work), Riverbulk Terminal in Edenton, NC (a 50-acre Federal Opportunity Zone heavy-industrial site with bulkheaded dock, 500-ton crane pad, and 100,000 SF warehouse), and Pier K in North Charleston, SC (topside repair and shipyard support). Core service lines are Bulk Cargo (lightering of coal, steel, DRI, wood chips, aggregates, scrap, HBI, etc.), Project Cargo (heavy-lift and ro-ro movements for oversized industrial cargo that cannot move by rail or truck), Heavy Lift/Salvage (specialized dual-crane lifts, vessel recovery, wreck removal), Tugs/Barges chartering, and Construction Support / Equipment Rental (Komatsu PC-1250, floating cranes, crane mats, winches, material barges, and heavy-lift rigging).

Stevens Towing generates revenue on a quote-based, project-by-project transaction model with no publicly disclosed pricing, targeting enterprise clients in steel, power generation, automotive manufacturing, logistics, and US Government/Defense (including Jones Act-compliant and class 7 nuclear cargo work). Named enterprise customers include NUCOR Steel, Mitsubishi, General Electric, Florida Power & Light, Mammoet, the US Navy, and General Dynamics. Go-to-market is direct sales supported by a website, Instagram presence, and a youth apprenticeship program with local high schools. The company employs approximately 175 people across tugboat operations and the shipyard.

Name

Stevens Towing

Legal name

Stevens Towing Co., Inc.

Website

https://stevens-towing.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

1913

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

101–250 employees

Short description

Stevens Towing is a fourth-generation, family-owned marine transportation and shipyard company founded in 1913, operating 13 towboats, 50+ barges, multiple 500-ton floating cranes, and the US Flag Jones Act ship M/V Coastal Venture from three facilities in South Carolina and North Carolina, serving enterprise and government clients with bulk cargo, project cargo, heavy lift, salvage, and vessel repair services.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Marine Transportation & Shipyard Services

NAICS

Deep Sea, Coastal, and Great Lakes Water Transportation (48311), Inland Water Transportation (48321), Deep Sea Freight Transportation (483111), Support Activities for Water Transportation (4883), Marine Cargo Handling (48832)

SIC

Water Transportation (4400), Ship & Boat Building & Repairing (3730), Deep Sea Foreign Transportation Of Freight (4412), Arrangement Of Transportation Of Freight & Cargo (4731)

akta.pro primary industry

Heavy Lift & Marine Recovery (Cranes, Barges, Jack-up Support) (TLAHAIAF)

akta.pro secondary industries

Barge & Offshore Towage (Barge Moves, Rig/Platform Tows) (TLAHAHAF), Emergency Towage & Rescue (Refloating, Grounding Response) (IMAJANAB), Breakbulk & Project Cargo Handling (Heavy Lift, Out-of-Gauge Handling) (TLAHALAH), Heavy Lift & Marine Recovery (Cranes, Lift Barges, Rigging) (IMAJANAC), Cargo Salvage & Lightering (Cargo Transfer, Stabilization) (IMAJANAE), Salvage Support Towage (Refloating/Wreck Removal Assistance) (TLAHAHAH)

Keywords

• Marine transportation services
• Heavy lift salvage
• Vessel dry docking
• Ocean towing services
• Shipyard repair services

Headquarters

HQ city

Edenton

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices3 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Infrastructure, Supply Chain, Marketing or Sales, Others

Revenue model

1. Marine Towing Services: Inland, coastwise, and ocean towing services using tugboats and barges. Services include bulk cargo transport, project cargo, and heavy lift operations.
2. Shipyard Services: Vessel dry-dockings, repairs, maintenance, and third-party services at Yonges Island Shipyard, Riverbulk Terminal, and Pier K facilities.
3. Construction Support and Equipment Rental: Rental equipment including Komatsu PC-1250, floating cranes, crane mats, winches, stands, beams, ramps, spuds, material barges, crane barges, and heavy lift rigging.
4. Project Cargo Transportation: Heavy-lift and ro-ro movements, specialized transportation solutions for oversized cargo, serving as a one-stop shop from start to finish.

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels1 record

Marketing channels4 records

Core offering

Stevens Towing provides inland, coastwise, and ocean marine towing and transportation of bulk commodities, project cargo, and oversized items using a fleet of tugs, barges, and the US Flag Jones Act ship M/V Coastal Venture. It also delivers heavy lift, salvage, and wreck recovery using multiple 500-ton floating cranes, plus full-service shipyard work at Yonges Island including vessel dry-docking, repairs, maintenance, third-party inspections, and construction support equipment rental.

Product overview

Stevens Towing Company is a multi-generational family-owned shipyard and marine transportation company offering a comprehensive suite of maritime services. The company's core offerings center on four main fleet divisions: Bulk Cargo Services (ship lightering for commodities like coal, steel, and aggregates), Project Cargo (heavy-lift and ro-ro movements for oversized cargo), Heavy Lift/Salvage (with specialized floating cranes including the 500-ton Savannah Giant and Ocean Ranger), and Tugs/Barges (inland and offshore towing). Supporting these is a Construction Support/Rental Equipment division providing construction equipment and the company's Yonges Island Shipyard offering vessel dry dockings, repairs, and maintenance. The company also operates the US Flag Jones Act ship M/V Coastal Venture for ocean transport. Stevens Towing operates 13 towboats, more than 50 barges, several 500-ton floating cranes, and shipyards including an 820-metric ton travelift boat hoist, employing over 100 people.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Bulk Cargo Services

Quantifiable outcome

• Transported 1,000,000 tons of bulk cargo in 74 days for NUCOR Steel
• +3 more outcomes

Named customers12 records

Segments6 records

Ideal customer profiles5 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature6 records

Partnerships

26 partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• Resolve MarinecoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerHeavy lift recovery operation partnership at Port of Charleston. Stevens Towing partnered with Resolve Marine to recover a 150-ton railcar carrying a 420-ton generator that toppled during transport, safely recovering the railcar and cargo while protecting surrounding dock infrastructure.
• Edwards Moving and RiggingcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnered for removal of decommissioned nuclear reactor from the NS Savannah in Baltimore, MD. Stevens Towing provided the Stevens 2501 deck barge (one of only two in US with COI for class 7 nuclear cargo) and tug Sea Crescent for the operation.
• Crofton DivingcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerLifted the reactor out of the NS Savannah vessel with their floating derrick Samson and landed the reactor into a specialized container on Stevens Towing's Stevens 2501 deck barge.
• BaggiocoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorFreight forwarder who oversaw logistics for automotive press manufacturer. Stevens Towing was hired to handle 6 large automotive press components that couldn't be transported by rail or truck.
• MammoetcoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorStevens Towing delivered GE diffusers and turbines to St. Clair, MI for Mammoet, who contracted the transport and ultimately received the pieces via SPMT roll-off.
• T&T SalvageminorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorUtilized their floating crane Pacific to swing paper mill pieces from the RWS 1501 barge onto trucks for final delivery.
• RMK Merrill StevenscoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerStevens Towing shipyard crew, Heavy-Lift team and tug Sea Crescent completed months-long project including pickup, assembly, and delivery of Pearlson Shiplift from Norfolk, VA to Miami, FL.
• Savannah Yacht CentercoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorCompleted final delivery and float-in of Savannah Yacht Center's new Pearlson Shiplift. The 600+ ton shiplift was set within 1/8 inch alignment specification tolerance.
• National HarborminorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorDelivered Air Force One replica from Rhode Island to Washington, DC, with barge maneuvered up Potomac River and rolled off at National Harbor.
• GPA TechnologiescoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorWorked with GPA Technologies and US Navy to relocate floating barrier system at Kings Bay Naval Base in St Mary's, GA.
• Salmons Dredging's Commercial DiverscoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorPartnership with Salmons Dredging's Commercial Divers to remove four sunken barges and a crane from Folly River near Charleston, SC.
• Salmons Marine ContractorscoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnered with Salmons Marine Contractors alongside SCDNR and US Coast Guard to remove abandoned 90-foot barge from Wappoo Creek.
• North Carolina Artificial Reef Program / NC DNRminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerDeployed approximately 3,000 tons of concrete culvert across reef sites AR-230 and AR-250 offshore of Cape Hatteras and Ocracoke.
• South Carolina DNR / Coastal Conservation Association of SCminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerAssembled and deployed near-shore structure for South Carolina's artificial reef program using shipping containers, water tower, and concrete shark.
• Pacific TugminorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorAssisted with loading Navy vessel in San Diego, CA for coastwise transit to East Coast.
• J. Goodison ShipyardminorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorDischarged YT 809 at their North Kingstown, RI facility which had the capacity to handle the vessel with their 900-ton Marine Travel Lift.
• Hempstead MarineminorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorAssisted with tow up Miami River for Pearlson Shiplift delivery to RMK Merrill Stevens in Miami.
• Brownie CompanyminorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorWorking with Brownie Company from Miami to ballast barge and set Pearlson Shiplift on stands at RMK facility.
• Barnhart Crane & RiggingminorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorHired to move 6 automotive press components one at a time from storage to site using specialized trailer.
• Cooper T. SmithminorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorContracted Stevens Towing to lift and move Clyde 28 ship lightering crane from old barge to new replacement barge.
• Charleston Heavy Lift LLCcoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorRelated entity handling heavy lift and salvage operations. Website: charlestonheavylift.com. Partnered with Stevens Salvage Team on multiple operations.
• American Marine Co.minorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorAssisted with mega move of four terminal cranes from Charleston to Nigeria. Three Stevens Towing tugs assisted with the 6,000-mile journey.
• Norsar LLCminorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorPartnered with American Marine Co. for mega move of terminal cranes bound for Nigeria.
• Freeland ConstructionminorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorPartnered with Freeland Construction, PCL, SC DNR, and SC Governors Cup to remove old Highway 41 bridge span for sinking as artificial reef.
• PCLminorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorPartnered for Highway 41 Wando River bridge span removal for artificial reef project.
• J.E. Oswalt & SonscoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorOngoing partnership for trailer and transport services for deliveries to cable manufacturer and other project cargo.

Scale indicators5 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• Crescent Towing & Salvage: Gulf Coast-based marine towing, salvage, and heavy-lift operator with similar fleet composition (tugs, barges, cranes) and project cargo capabilities. Geographic complement to Stevens with overlapping service offering.
• Moran Towing Corporation: Large US tugboat and barge operator serving East, Gulf, and West Coasts with comparable harbor towing, coastal transport, and project cargo services. Closest scale comparable to Stevens' towing/barge division.
• T&T Salvage: Marine salvage and emergency response contractor with floating cranes and tugs. Existing Stevens partner (Pacific crane) on paper mill and project cargo moves, directly comparable in salvage/heavy-lift niche.
• Donjon Marine: US marine salvage, heavy lift, and dredging company operating a comparable fleet of floating cranes, tugs, and barges. Direct overlap with Stevens on East Coast salvage and heavy-lift projects, including joint positioning for emergency response and wreck removal.
• Vane Brothers: Mid-Atlantic tugboat and barge transportation company serving petroleum and dry cargo shippers. Comparable Mid-Atlantic operations to Stevens' Edenton NC base and similar barge fleet composition.
• Resolve Marine: Global marine salvage and emergency response company. Existing Stevens Towing partner at Port of Charleston on heavy lift recovery — directly comparable salvage capabilities and customer overlap.
• Bouchard Transportation: Family-owned US tug and barge operator with one of the largest independent barge fleets. Comparable Jones Act domestic transportation focus and multi-generational family ownership structure.
• McAllister Towing: Family-owned marine towing and transportation company operating tugboats and barges across the US East Coast. Comparable business model, customer base (industrial shippers, government), and family-owned heritage.

Broad incumbents

• Kirby Corporation: Largest US inland marine transportation company with nationwide barge fleet. Publicly traded, better-capitalized competitor that sets pricing benchmarks and competes for bulk cargo contracts across Stevens' geographies.
• Crowley Maritime Corporation: Diversified marine solutions provider with ship assist, towing, salvage, and government services. Operates at much larger scale across broader geographies, providing indirect competition for large project cargo and defense logistics work.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles8 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 Stevens Towing