Hemisphere Logistics

What Hemisphere Logistics does

Hemisphere Logistics is a privately held B2B logistics provider and a wholly owned subsidiary of Independent Container Line (ICL), specializing in the containerized ocean transportation of large industrial coils — steel, aluminum, copper and tin plate — weighing up to 25 metric tons each. The company's core product is the patented Coil-Tainer™ system: a steel pallet designed to cradle coils inside standard shipping containers, evenly distributing weight to eliminate the wood pallets, fumigation, blocking and bracing that traditional break-bulk coil shipping requires. The pallets are approved by the Competent Authority for containerized transport, and the company complements the hardware with a proprietary internet-based tracking tool and its own house bill of lading.

Hemisphere operates from a US office in Glen Allen, Virginia and a European headquarters in Antwerp, Belgium, with a team of approximately 9 people split between the two regions. Its go-to-market is enterprise field sales supported by an international agency network, with regular sailings on Europe-to-Middle East, Europe-to-South/Central America, Europe-to-South Africa, and Europe-to-Far East tradelanes. On USA-bound trades the Coil-Tainer system is provided by parent ICL rather than the subsidiary directly, indicating an internal split of responsibilities within the ICL group.

The company monetizes through per-ton ocean freight pricing (quote-based, minimums may apply), with no published rate cards. Customer segments are exclusively vertical — steel and non-ferrous metal coil manufacturers and shippers — and Hemisphere has received industry recognition including American Metal Market's 'Steel Excellence, Logistics/Transportation Provider of the Year' award. As a non-disclosing subsidiary of a private parent, no revenue, headcount growth, funding or M&A signals are publicly available.

Name

Hemisphere Logistics

Legal name

Hemisphere Logistics

Website

https://hemispherelogistics.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

2009

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

Hemisphere Logistics, a wholly owned subsidiary of Independent Container Line, is a B2B logistics provider specializing in patented containerized ocean transport of steel, aluminum, copper and tin plate coils up to 25 metric tons across Europe-origin tradelanes.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Ocean Freight Logistics Services

NAICS

Freight Transportation Arrangement (488510), Deep Sea Freight Transportation (483111)

SIC

Arrangement Of Transportation Of Freight & Cargo (4731), Deep Sea Foreign Transportation Of Freight (4412)

akta.pro primary industry

NVOCC Operations & Ocean Consolidation (TLACABAC)

akta.pro secondary industries

Ocean Export Forwarding (Booking/VGM/SI/BL) (TLACABAF), Ocean Import Forwarding (Destination Handling/DO/ISF) (TLACABAE), LCL (Less-than-Container Load) Consolidation/Deconsolidation (TLACABAB)

Keywords

• Ocean freight services
• Coil transportation
• Containerized shipping
• Steel coil logistics
• Heavy cargo shipping

Headquarters

HQ city

Glen Allen

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices2 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Operations, Personnel, Infrastructure, Marketing or Sales

Revenue model

1. Ocean Freight Transportation: Ocean rate charged on a per ton basis - customers pay only for what they ship (minimums may apply). Provides house bill of lading through Hemisphere Logistics.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels1 record

Marketing channels2 records

Core offering

Hemisphere Logistics specializes in ocean freight transportation and shipment of large, heavy coils of steel, aluminum, copper, and tin plate (up to 25 metric tons) using its patented Coil-Tainer™ steel pallet system. The company provides secure containerized shipping services across international tradelanes (Europe to Middle East, South/Central America, South Africa, Far East), complemented by proprietary internet-based shipment tracking software and house bill of lading issuance.

Product overview

Hemisphere Logistics operates as a single-product logistics company offering the Coil-Tainer™ system, an exclusive patented solution for the secure transportation of large, heavy coils (steel, aluminum, copper, and tin plate) up to 25 metric tons. The system consists of specially designed steel pallets that cradle coils and prevent movement during shipping, eliminating traditional break-bulk shipping expenses and damage. The company also provides supporting services including proprietary internet-based tracking software, house bill of lading issuance, and an expansive service network covering Europe to Middle East, South/Central America, South Africa, and Far East tradelanes.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• Coil-Tainer™: Patented steel pallet and portable container loading/unloading system for secure transportation of coils up to 25 metric tons. The system eliminates need for wood pallets, fumigation, and blocking/bracing within containers.

Products and services

• Coil-Tainer™ System An exclusive patented shipping service/system for transporting large, heavy coils of steel, aluminum, copper, and tin plate (up to 25 metric tons) securely. Coils are strapped to steel pallets that cradle and prevent movement, eliminating the need for wood pallets, fumigation, and blocking/bracing within shipping containers. Offered to industrial coil manufacturers and metal industry shippers on international tradelanes.

Quantifiable outcome

• Coils up to 25 metric tons can be transported securely
• +1 more outcomes

Named customers3 records

Segments1 record

Ideal customer profiles2 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature2 records

Partnerships

One partnership is on record.

• Independent Container Line (ICL)coreOthersHemisphere Logistics is a wholly owned subsidiary of Independent Container Line (ICL). ICL is a world-class Trans-Atlantic shipping line with integrated logistics network. ICL provides the Coil-Tainer pallet system on USA trade routes. ICL has USA headquarters in Richmond, Virginia since 1985 and European headquarters in Antwerp, Belgium since 1989.

Scale indicators2 records

Recent moves5 records

Expansion highlights3 records

Broad incumbents

• CEVA Logistics: CEVA Logistics is a large global logistics provider with ocean freight forwarding and specialized industrial capabilities serving sectors such as metals and manufacturing. It overlaps with Hemisphere on ocean freight arrangement for industrial customers but operates across many verticals.
• DHL Global Forwarding: DHL Global Forwarding arranges ocean and air freight for industrial customers worldwide, including metals and heavy cargo. It is a broad incumbent that overlaps with Hemisphere on global ocean freight arrangement but does not focus exclusively on coil shipping.
• Expeditors International: Expeditors is a major global freight forwarder offering ocean and air transportation services to industrial shippers. It competes with Hemisphere for ocean freight arrangement business with metals customers, though it is a broad-based forwarder rather than a coil specialist.
• Kuehne+Nagel: Kuehne+Nagel is one of the world's largest freight forwarders with deep ocean and metals logistics capabilities. It serves the same global metal and coil shipper base as Hemisphere but as part of a much broader forwarding portfolio rather than as a coil-only specialist.

Direct peers

• Independent Container Line (ICL): ICL is the parent of Hemisphere Logistics and itself a Trans-Atlantic ocean carrier offering containerized shipping services. As the parent, ICL shares the same customer base and operational network and directly competes with/owns Hemisphere's capabilities on US trade lanes.
• Shipco Transport: Shipco Transport is a global NVOCC offering ocean freight services, including specialized handling for project and heavy cargo. Like Hemisphere, it arranges ocean transportation as a non-vessel operator and issues house bills of lading, making its core business model closely aligned with Hemisphere's.
• Western Overseas Corporation: Western Overseas is a US-based freight forwarder with deep expertise in steel and metals logistics, offering ocean and trucking services. It directly overlaps with Hemisphere in serving steel coil and metals shippers as a niche-specialized forwarder.
• BDG International: BDG International is an independent NVOCC and ocean freight forwarder serving project, heavy, and break-bulk cargo. It directly overlaps with Hemisphere on the niche of moving heavy industrial cargo via ocean, including metals-related flows.

Emerging players

• Flexport: Flexport is a technology-enabled digital freight forwarder offering ocean and air services to global shippers. It competes with Hemisphere for ocean forwarding business, including industrial customers, but is a generalist rather than a coil-only specialist.

Regional players

• Transglory Co. Ltd: Transglory is a Japan-based specialized ocean forwarder focused on steel and metals shipments across Asia. It is comparable to Hemisphere as a metals-focused forwarder but operates primarily in Asian trade lanes rather than Europe-outbound routes.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat3 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

Compliance2 records

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles10 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 Hemisphere Logistics