Rix Shipping

What Rix Shipping does

Rix Shipping Ltd is a Hull-based maritime services provider, formed on 23 March 1950 as part of the Rix Group (whose origins date to 1873), and currently in its sixth generation of family ownership. The company delivers an integrated suite of services to shipping operators, offshore wind developers, and vessel owners across UK waters and into Europe: ships agency (through sister company Seaway Logistics), fuel bunkering (via Maritime Bunkering and Rix Petroleum), offshore renewables support (via Rix Renewables), crew transfers, and crew placement.

The company's underlying asset base is an owned fleet comprising four purpose-built crew transfer vessels — Rix Tiger (19m, MCA Cat 1, 12 pax), Rix Panther (19m, MCA Cat 2, 12 pax), Rix Lion (26m Damen Twin Axe, MCA Cat 1, 24 pax), and Rix Cheetah (25m, MCA Cat 1, 12 pax) — alongside four estuarial barges (Rix Owl, Rix Eagle, Rix Phoenix, Rix Merlin) operating on the Humber and East Coast for oil products transport. The CTV fleet supports 24/7 crew transfers and technician dispatch to offshore wind farms, while the barge fleet underpins Humber-based fuel and oil distribution.

Rix Shipping operates a B2B sales-led go-to-market, acquiring customers through direct relationships, phone, email, and the Rix Group sister-company referral network. Pricing is quote-based and tailored to vessel, duration, and project scope. Named enterprise customers include SSE Renewables, Equinor, Vårgrønn, Vattenfall, Subsea 7, and Echoship, with revenue streams spanning charter hire, agency fees, bunkering margins, and crew placement fees.

Name

Rix Shipping

Legal name

Rix Shipping Ltd

Website

https://rixshipping.co.uk

Company type

Private

Founded year

1950

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

251–500 employees

Short description

Rix Shipping is a Hull-based, family-owned maritime services provider operating an owned fleet of crew transfer vessels and estuarial barges. It delivers ships agency, fuel bunkering, offshore wind support, and crew placement to shipping operators and renewables developers across UK waters and Europe.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Maritime Shipping Services

NAICS

Support Activities for Water Transportation (4883), Water Transportation (483), Marine Cargo Handling (48832), Coastal and Great Lakes Freight Transportation (483113)

SIC

Water Transportation (4400), Arrangement Of Transportation Of Freight & Cargo (4731)

akta.pro primary industry

Offshore Support & Marine Logistics Vessel Operators (PSV/AHTS) (TLADABAL)

akta.pro secondary industry

Offshore Marine & Aviation Support (PSVs, AHTS, Crew Boats, Helicopters) (EUALABAJ)

Keywords

• Maritime shipping services
• Crew transfer vessels
• Fuel bunkering services
• Offshore wind support
• Ships agency services

Headquarters

HQ city

Kingston upon Hull

HQ country

United Kingdom

HQ region

Europe

Offices2 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. Vessel Charter: Charter of crew transfer vessels, oil tankers, and estuarial barges for offshore operations. Vessels available for varying project periods with tailored charter arrangements.
2. Ships Agency Services: Port operations and agency services including crew changes, transfers, repatriation, pilot/tug/mooring arrangements, fresh water and provisions supply, and vessel clearance documentation. Provided through sister company Seaway Logistics.
3. Fuel Bunkering Services: On and offshore bunkering, fuel distribution and storage with competitive pricing. Marine Gas Oil and Very-Low Sulphur Fuel Oil meeting ISO specifications. Services through sister companies Maritime Bunkering Ltd and Rix Petroleum.
4. Crew Services: Connecting skilled crew with employers in the shipping industry. Provides full-time placements, short-notice work, and flexible placements across the UK.

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels1 record

Marketing channels4 records

Core offering

Rix Shipping is a Hull-based maritime services company that provides ships agency, fuel bunkering, crew transfers, crew recruitment, and renewable energy support for offshore wind farms. The company operates a fleet of four Crew Transfer Vessels (CTVs) and four estuarial barges/oil tankers servicing vessels and offshore developments throughout UK waters and Europe, delivering these services through sister companies within the Rix Group.

Product overview

Rix Shipping operates as a maritime services provider offering a portfolio of interconnected shipping services centered on the River Humber. The core service offerings include Ships Agency (via Seaway Logistics), Fuel Bunkering (via Maritime Bunkering and Rix Petroleum), Renewables support (via Rix Renewables), Crew Transfers, and Crew Services. The company operates a diverse fleet comprising four Crew Transfer Vessels (Rix Tiger, Rix Panther, Rix Lion, Rix Cheetah) serving offshore wind farms, and four Estuarial Barges (Rix Owl, Rix Eagle, Rix Phoenix, Rix Merlin) for oil products transport on the Humber and East Coast.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Ships Agency Comprehensive ships agency services including crew transfers and welfare, owners and charterers agency, stevedoring, and loading and discharge operations, delivered through sister company Seaway Logistics for shipping companies and vessel operators.
• Fuel Bunkering On and offshore bunkering, fuel distribution and storage with Marine Gas Oil and Very-Low Sulphur Fuel Oil meeting ISO specifications, delivered through sister companies Maritime Bunkering Ltd and Rix Petroleum for vessel operators.
• Renewables Support Services Renewable energy support for offshore wind farms including crew transfer vessels, wind farm technicians, inspectors, and operations and maintenance managed support services, serving the world's largest renewables and utility companies across UK and Europe.
• Crew Transfers Fast, reliable crew transfer solutions across UK waters for crew changes, stores delivery, and vessel-specific deliveries, operating a fleet of four Crew Transfer Vessels (CTVs) on a 24/7 basis for offshore operations.
• Crew Services Crew recruitment and placement service connecting skilled seafarers (masters, officers, deckhands, stewards, cooks, engineers) with shipping employers, offering full-time placements, short-notice work, sickness cover, and flexible placements across the UK.

Named customers8 records

Segments3 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

Five partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• Seaway LogisticscoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerSister company Seaway Logistics provides expert ships agency services including crew changes, transfers, repatriation, pilot/tug/mooring arrangements, provisions supply, port facility advice, and vessel clearance documentation. Together with Rix Shipping, they offer seamless port operations.
• Maritime Bunkering LtdcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerLeading bunker supplier on the River Humber trusted by world's leading shipping companies. Provides on and offshore bunkering, fuel distribution, and fuel storage services with Marine Gas Oil and Very-Low Sulphur Fuel Oil meeting latest ISO specifications.
• Rix PetroleumcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerSister company offering tanker-to-ship delivery service for marine fuels, storage facilities, and commercial purchasing options for vessel operators.
• Rix RenewablescoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerSister company providing wind farm technicians, inspectors, crew transfer vessels, and operations/maintenance managed support services. Based at Hull and Grimsby locations with experience working with world's largest renewables and utility companies on offshore wind developments.
• Rix Cargo Solutions ScotlandminorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorSister company operating as Rix Shipping Scotland, providing cargo solutions in the Scottish region.

Scale indicators4 records

Recent moves5 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Broad incumbents

• Vroon: Dutch offshore support vessel operator with PSVs and subsea support vessels serving European offshore energy markets — broader scope but overlapping customer base in offshore wind and oil & gas vessel operations.
• James Fisher and Sons: UK-listed offshore support services group covering vessel operations, subsea, and renewables support — broader portfolio than Rix but operates in adjacent categories including offshore wind crew transfer and marine services.
• Vopak: Global independent tank storage and terminal operator with marine fuel bunkering at selected terminals — comparable fuel storage and bunkering capability to Maritime Bunkering / Rix Petroleum, though at vastly greater scale.
• Stena Oil: Stena Group's marine fuel and bunkering arm operating bunker storage and fuel supply services in northern Europe — overlaps with Maritime Bunkering's Humber and North Sea bunker supply activities.
• Solstad Offshore: Norwegian offshore service vessel operator with PSV, AHTS, and subsea construction vessels — broader scope and global scale, but adjacent in offshore marine vessel operations supporting energy customers.

Direct peers

• Seacat Services: UK-based CTV operator with vessels purpose-built for offshore wind crew transfer and maintenance — direct competition to Rix's Rix Tiger/Panther/Lion/Cheetah fleet in the UK offshore wind market.
• ESVAGT: Danish offshore wind service vessel operator (now part of Global Energy Group) running CTVs and SOVs for major European wind developers — directly comparable service offering, larger scale, and overlapping customers like Equinor.
• Tidal Transit: UK-headquartered CTV operator with a large fleet serving European offshore wind — directly comparable operating model, vessel categories, and customer base (offshore wind developers and OFTOs).
• Njord Offshore: UK-based CTV operator serving the European offshore wind market with a fleet of purpose-built crew transfer vessels, overlapping directly with Rix Shipping's CTV offering in UK and northern European waters.
• Peterson (De Boer / Peterson Energy Logistics): UK-based integrated logistics and ships agency provider serving the energy and offshore sectors — directly comparable to Seaway Logistics' ships agency / stevedoring offering within the Rix ecosystem.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/rixseashuttle
• Facebookfacebook.com/rixshipping

Compliance1 record

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles6 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 Rix Shipping