Institute of Shipping Economics and Logistics

What Institute of Shipping Economics and Logistics does

The Institute of Shipping Economics and Logistics (ISL), founded in 1954 in Bremen, Germany, is an independent non-profit foundation under private German law (unabhängige gemeinnützige Stiftung privaten Rechts) supervised by the Senator für Inneres Bremen. It operates from headquarters in Bremen and a secondary office in Bremerhaven, with a staff of 11-50 employees. The institute is one of Europe's leading research and consulting organizations in maritime logistics, serving shipping companies, port operators, shipbuilders, financial institutions, government agencies, and research institutions through a portfolio of research services, consulting, statistical publications, and data products.

ISL's core technology is a maritime data analytics platform combining proprietary databases with statistical modeling and simulation. The cornerstone is the MCPM (Monthly Container Port Monitor), which collects standardized TEU throughput data from approximately 92 international ports representing 64% of global container traffic. The jointly developed RWI/ISL Container Throughput Index (co-developed with RWI - Leibniz Institute for Economic Research since 2007) is used as a global trade indicator by UNCTAD, WTO, and OECD. Supporting products include the SSYB Shipping Statistics Yearbook (internationally recognized annual reference work), SSMR Shipping Statistics and Market Review (nine annual issues), ECTM European Container Traffic Model (forecasting/simulation), GIS & Dashboards, and a Port Database. ISL has maintained continuous time-series maritime data since the 1970s.

Revenue is generated through five streams: research services via EU-funded projects (Horizon Europe, Interreg Baltic Sea Region, BMVI, BMBF), publication sales (SSYB, SSMR, ISL Book Series, ISL Studies, Green Shipping, LNG Report) through the ISL Webshop and subscription customer portal, consulting services for port authorities and shipping companies, software/data subscriptions (MCPM, ECTM), and customer portal access. Pricing examples include SSYB Digital Single User at 369.15 EUR per issue and SSMR Digital Single User at 545.70 EUR per issue. The institute is governed by Managing Directors Prof. Dr. Burkhard Lemper, Prof. Dr. Frank Arendt, and Christoffer Dehne.

Name

Institute of Shipping Economics and Logistics

Legal name

Institut für Seeverkehrswirtschaft und Logistik (ISL)

Website

https://isl.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

1954

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

ISL is a Bremen-based non-profit research institute founded in 1954 that provides maritime logistics research, consulting, and proprietary statistical publications and data products to shipping companies, port operators, governments, and research institutions globally.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Headquarters

HQ city

Brêmes

HQ country

France

HQ region

Europe

Offices2 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Technology or R&D, Infrastructure, Others

Revenue model

1. Research Services: EU-funded and publicly funded research projects conducted as consortium partner or lead partner. Revenue derived from project grants under programs such as Horizon Europe, Interreg Baltic Sea Region, and national funding programs (BMVI, BMBF).
2. Publication Sales: Sale of statistical publications including the Shipping Statistics Yearbook (SSYB), Shipping Statistics and Market Review (SSMR), and historical data subscriptions through the ISL Webshop. Digital and print formats available with subscription options.
3. Consulting Services: Contract research and consulting engagements for public institutions, port authorities, shipping companies, and industry associations. Custom studies, market analyses, and policy advisory services.
4. Software and Data Services: Licensing of software tools including MCPM (Monthly Container Port Monitor) and specialized maritime databases. Subscription-based access to data services and dashboards.
5. Customer Portal Subscriptions: Subscriber access to digital publications and historical data downloads through the ISL customer portal (mi.isl.org).

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels5 records

Core offering

The Institute of Shipping Economics and Logistics (ISL) is a non-profit research institute that conducts applied research, consulting, and knowledge transfer in maritime logistics. It maintains proprietary statistical databases on global shipping, ports, and container throughput, publishes reference works including the Shipping Statistics Yearbook (SSYB) and Shipping Statistics and Market Review (SSMR), and offers the RWI/ISL Container Throughput Index co-developed with RWI - Leibniz Institute for Economic Research. ISL also delivers contract research and consulting for shipping companies, port operators, governments, and international organizations.

Product overview

The Institute of Shipping Economics and Logistics (ISL) offers a portfolio of research, consulting, and data services focused on maritime logistics. The core products include the RWI/ISL Container Throughput Index (a monthly global trade indicator developed with RWI), the SSYB Shipping Statistics Yearbook (annual comprehensive maritime statistics), and the SSMR Shipping Statistics and Market Review (nine annual issues analyzing maritime market segments). Supporting data services include the MCPM Monthly Container Port Monitor (continuous port data collection), the ECTM European Container Traffic Model, GIS & Dashboards for visualization, and a Port Database. The offerings are complemented by specialized publications through the ISL Book Series, ISL Studies, Green Shipping, and LNG Report sub-brands. The organization operates primarily as a research institute rather than a software product company.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• RWI/ISL Container Throughput Index A monthly indicator of global container throughput developed in cooperation with RWI - Leibniz Institute for Economic Research, based on data from approximately 92 international ports covering 64% of global container traffic. Used by UNCTAD, WTO, and OECD as an early indicator for international trade and global economic activity.
• SSYB - Shipping Statistics Yearbook An internationally recognized annual reference work providing comprehensive maritime sector statistics on the world merchant fleet, seaborne trade, shipbuilding markets, and port data. Available as digital single-user subscription at 369.15 EUR per issue, with combined packages available with SSMR. Serves shipping companies, shipyards, port operators, brokers, banks, consultancies, and research institutions.
• SSMR - Shipping Statistics and Market Review Nine annual issues examining current developments in various maritime industry segments, including market reviews, statistics, and expert commentary on the tanker market, bulk carrier market, container shipping, shipbuilding, and seaborne trade. Digital single-user subscription priced at 545.70 EUR per issue.
• MCPM - Monthly Container Port Monitor Continuous collection of container throughput data from approximately 92 international ports providing market observation and individual port data series with standardized TEU measurements and seasonal adjustments. Available through subscription with pricing varying by scope and access level.
• ECTM - European Container Traffic Model Forecasting and simulation model for European container transport demand covering all major European ports and their hinterland connections. Provides analysis and forecasting of European container shipping patterns.
• Port Database Comprehensive database of port information including shipping and goods traffic data for the world's most important seaports.
• GIS & Dashboards Geographic information systems and dashboard solutions for visualizing maritime data and port analytics.
• ISL Book Series Book series publishing research findings and studies on maritime logistics and shipping economics, sold through the ISL Webshop.
• ISL Studies Research studies covering various aspects of maritime transport, logistics, and port operations, sold through the ISL Webshop.
• Green Shipping publications Publications focused on sustainable shipping practices and environmental aspects of maritime transport.
• LNG Report Specialized report covering liquefied natural gas developments in the maritime shipping sector.
• Contract Research Services EU-funded and publicly funded research projects conducted as consortium partner or lead partner under programs such as Horizon Europe, Interreg Baltic Sea Region, and national funding programs (BMVI, BMBF). Includes projects such as SEAMLESS, DocksTheFuture, EMMA, OCEANIDS, and PortSec.
• Consulting Services Contract research and consulting engagements for public institutions, port authorities, shipping companies, and industry associations. Includes custom studies, market analyses, and policy advisory services. Named engagements include work for Hamburg Port on inland waterway transport and for Brüning Group on customized expertise.

Quantifiable outcome

• RWI/ISL Container Throughput Index closely correlated with IMF world trade data; reliable indicator during 2008/2009 financial crisis
• +2 more outcomes

Named customers5 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

Eight partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• RWI - Leibniz Institute for Economic ResearchcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerJoint development and publication of the RWI/ISL Container Throughput Index - a monthly global container throughput indicator used as an economic early indicator by international organizations. This is a long-standing strategic partnership where both institutes contribute complementary data and analytical capabilities.
• Maritimes Cluster Norddeutschland (MCN)coreOthersISL celebrates ten years of membership in the Maritime Cluster Northern Germany (as of July 2026). Active participation in the network for maritime innovations. MCN brings together maritime stakeholders in northern Germany for collaborative development.
• Deutsches Maritimes Zentrum e.V. (DMZ)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerDMZ has experienced ISL as a reliable and competent contractor for studies. Collaboration described as very pleasant and efficient. DMZ focuses on maritime policy, shipping, ports, and marine technology topics.
• akquinet port consulting GmbHminorImplementation/ SI/ Consulting PartnerProject partner in LAVIS feasibility study on cargo availability forecasting. Collaboration on data sharing and simulation approaches for maritime transport chain optimization.
• National Technical University of Athens (NTUA)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerLead coordinator of EU SEAMLESS project consortium. ISL participates as one of 26 research partners from 12 European countries working on autonomous navigation and digital integration technologies.
• Circle S.p.A.coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerLead partner in DocksTheFuture EU project defining Port of the Future concept for 2030. ISL contributed to working group alongside University of Genoa, Magellan (Portugal), and PortExpertise (Belgium).
• University of GenoaminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerAcademic partner in DocksTheFuture project contributing research expertise on port operations and digitalization topics.
• Hamburg Port Marketing e.V.coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerLead coordinator of EMMA project (2016-2019) strengthening inland waterways transport in the Baltic Sea Region. 21 project partners from Germany, Sweden, Finland, and Poland. Project budget of 4.42 million EUR funded by Interreg Baltic Sea Region Programme.

Scale indicators4 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Emerging players

• Xeneta: Norwegian ocean and air freight rate benchmarking platform using aggregated shipper data to provide near-real-time container rate intelligence. Comparable as a newer, tech-led shipping data and benchmarking provider serving shippers, forwarders, and carriers.
• VesselsValue: Shipping asset valuation and intelligence platform using AIS data and proprietary algorithms to value vessels, fleets, and shipping equity. Comparable as a digital-native maritime data provider serving banks, financiers, and shipowners.

Direct peers

• Drewry Maritime Research: Independent maritime supply chain research and consulting firm producing container shipping forecasts, port intelligence, and maritime advisory. Directly comparable in serving ports, shipping companies, and financial institutions with subscription research and bespoke consulting.
• Alphaliner: Container shipping intelligence service tracking the global liner fleet, orderbook, and trade routes with weekly and quarterly products. Highly comparable in providing subscription container shipping data and analysis used by ports, carriers, and financiers.
• BIMCO: World's largest shipowner association, providing market analysis, contract templates, and shipping intelligence to global members. Comparable in offering maritime market commentary and statistics to a wide institutional shipping audience.
• MDS Transmodal: UK-based maritime and transport economics consultancy modeling container flows, port hinterlands, and European logistics networks. Directly comparable in providing container traffic modeling (similar to ISL's ECTM) and policy advisory to ports and governments.
• Sea-Intelligence Consulting: Specialized container shipping market analysis firm publishing carrier reliability, supply-demand, and carrier profitability reports. Comparable as a focused subscription research provider serving container shipping lines, ports, and BCOs.
• Clarkson Research: Shipping intelligence arm of Clarksons PLC, providing global shipbroking research, fleet data, and market analysis. Closest comparable in terms of offering a portfolio of subscription databases, indices, and consulting to shipping lines, ports, and financial institutions.
• Baltic Exchange: Source of independent shipping market indices including the Baltic Dry Index and Baltic Capesize Index, now part of SGX. Comparable in producing recognized maritime market data products consumed by traders, shipowners, and financiers.

Broad incumbents

• DNV Maritime: Global classification society and maritime advisory firm offering ship classification, certification, plus maritime research and advisory services. Comparable in providing maritime data, advisory, and standards-related services at much greater scale and global footprint.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/institute-of-shipping-economics-and-logistics

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles13 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 Institute of Shipping Economics and Logistics