UK Ports

What UK Ports does

UK Ports is a not-for-profit Trade Authority founded in 2006 and headquartered in Birmingham, UK, with additional offices in London, Dublin, and New York. The organisation operates a membership-based platform connecting UK port authorities, harbour masters, marine suppliers, and individual maritime professionals, and serves a stated base of 1,200+ customers across 143 countries via a quarterly print directory with a 15,000-copy run, 200,000+ social media followers, and a mobile app. Its core products span four tiered membership programmes (Individual at £395/year, SME up to £10M revenue, Full £10–50M, and Corporate above £50M), a quarterly magazine with advertising slots from £865 to £2,495, Monitored Email Alerts priced from £1,000 to £3,000, and Focused Marine Data subscriptions from £1,995 to £7,995, alongside recurring events such as port meetings, trade missions, webinars, and the UK Ports Innovation and Sustainability Awards. The business model is event-driven, with revenue generated primarily through membership fees, advertising, paid data services, and an expanding ecosystem of approximately 20 official partners across coatings, lifting, communications, drones, EV charging, and ESG services, supplemented by a 100+ category suppliers directory used as the primary intermediation layer for port procurement. There are no disclosed technology platforms, proprietary AI/ML systems, APIs, or patents; the underlying stack is a content-and-directory business with digital distribution layered over a print magazine and live events, and the company does not disclose financial metrics such as revenue, funding, or headcount growth.

Name

UK Ports

Legal name

UK Ports Organisation

Website

https://ukports.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

2006

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

101–250 employees

Short description

UK Ports is a UK-based not-for-profit trade authority that runs a membership, events, and directory platform connecting port authorities, harbour masters, and marine suppliers across 143 countries via a quarterly magazine, mobile app, awards programmes, and paid data services.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Maritime Trade Association Services

NAICS

Support Activities for Water Transportation (4883), Port and Harbor Operations (488310)

SIC

Water Transportation (4400)

akta.pro primary industry

Maritime & Port Authorities (Public Ports, Harbors, Ferries Terminals) (BPAIALAF)

Keywords

• Port trade association
• Maritime membership services
• Port industry data
• Shipping directory listings
• Maritime event management

Headquarters

HQ city

London

HQ country

United Kingdom

HQ region

Europe

Offices4 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Technology or R&D, Others

Revenue model

1. Membership Fees: Tiered membership fees based on company revenue: Corporate Membership for revenue above £50 million, Full Membership for £10-50 million, SME Membership up to £10 million, and Individual Membership at £395 annually
2. Advertising and Directory Listings: Revenue from advertising in UK Ports Quarterly Magazine (15,000 print run) and directory listings, with pricing from £865 for quarter-page ads to £2,495 for full-page ads
3. Monitored Email Alerts: Subscription service delivering industry updates to members, with pricing tiers ranging from £1,000 for 5,000 contacts to £3,000 for 25,000 contacts
4. Focused Marine Data: Sale of targeted marine data for strategic decision-making, with pricing from £1,995 for up to 5,000 contacts to £7,995 for 20,000 contacts

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels5 records

Marketing channels6 records

Core offering

UK Ports is a not-for-profit trade authority that sells membership packages to UK port authorities, terminal operators, maritime suppliers, and individual maritime professionals. Its commercial offerings include tiered memberships (Corporate, Full, SME, Individual), a quarterly magazine (Port Strategy), a UK Ports Directory, a Suppliers Directory, an awards programme, networking events and webinars, and subscription-based marine data and email alert services.

Product overview

UK Ports is a not-for-profit Trade Authority providing a membership-based platform supporting the UK ports and maritime industry. The organization operates a portfolio of services including tiered membership programs (Corporate, Full, SME, and Individual) that grant access to networking events, industry directories, and data services. Core offerings include the UK Ports Quarterly Directory (reaching 15,000 print copies and 200,000 online subscribers), the Focused Marine Data service for strategic decision-making, Monitored Email Alert for regulatory updates, and the UK Ports Mobile App for business profile management. The organization also hosts the annual UK Ports Innovation Awards and UK Ports Sustainability Awards, and publishes the UK Ports Yearbook for global maritime industry exposure. Additional services include a Suppliers Directory connecting members with verified port service providers, Events & Webinars for industry networking, and advertising opportunities in the Quarterly Magazine for non-members.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Corporate Membership Tiered annual membership for UK port authorities and larger organisations, providing access to Port Strategy magazine, the UK Ports Directory, Suppliers Directory listings, networking events, and industry data.
• Full Membership Tiered annual membership for maritime suppliers and service providers, granting access to UK Ports' directory, magazine, events, and member benefits.
• SME Membership Tiered annual membership designed for small and medium-sized maritime suppliers and service companies, providing access to UK Ports' directory, magazine, events, and networking.
• Individual Membership Annual membership for individual maritime professionals, students, and consultants, providing access to Port Strategy magazine, directory content, networking events, and email alerts.
• Port Strategy Magazine Quarterly print and digital magazine covering the UK ports and maritime industry, distributed to members and sold with display and recruitment advertising.
• UK Ports Directory Annual printed directory of UK ports and related organisations, providing reference listings for the maritime sector.
• Suppliers Directory Searchable directory of maritime suppliers and service providers, used by port buyers to source vendors and by suppliers to gain visibility among UK ports.
• UK Ports Awards Annual industry awards programme recognising UK ports, terminals, and maritime organisations, with paid entries, sponsorship, and ticketed attendance.
• Networking Events and Webinars In-person networking events and online webinars for members and the wider UK maritime community, focused on industry topics and peer connection.
• Focused Marine Data Subscription-based marine data product offering qualified contact and company information on UK ports and the maritime sector, priced per contact.
• Email Alert Service Subscription email alert service delivering curated UK ports and maritime industry news and intelligence to subscribers.
• UK Ports Mobile App Mobile application providing members with on-the-go access to UK Ports content, directories, and event information.

Quantifiable outcome

• 200,000+ social media reach for member marketing
• +2 more outcomes

Named customers2 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

Nine partnerships are on record, tiered minor.

• Crawford & CominorOthersOfficial partner of UK Ports providing loss adjusting and claims management services relevant to maritime and port operations
• Crown Oil EnvironmentalminorOthersOfficial partner providing environmental services and solutions for ports and maritime operations
• Molson GroupminorOthersOfficial partner offering industrial equipment and solutions for ports sector
• BG BaileyminorOthersOfficial partner providing specialized services to ports industry
• OilfastminorOthersOfficial partner delivering fuel and oil solutions for maritime operations
• Solent StevedoresminorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorOfficial partner providing stevedoring and cargo handling services
• Lucion GroupminorOthersOfficial partner offering risk management and safety services for ports
• DecernaminorOthersOfficial partner providing property and infrastructure services
• Wernick HireminorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorOfficial partner providing temporary accommodation and modular building hire

Scale indicators8 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• Society of Maritime Industries (SMI): UK trade association for marine equipment manufacturers and service providers. Overlaps with UK Ports' supplier-side membership and event programming, particularly for engineering, technology, and equipment vendors serving ports.
• ICHCA International: International cargo handling coordination association with a strong focus on ports, terminals, and cargo handling safety and efficiency. Comparable to UK Ports in its niche within the ports-and-cargo-handling community, including events and technical working groups.
• UK Chamber of Shipping: The principal trade association for the UK shipping industry, representing UK shipowners and operators. Comparable as a UK-headquartered maritime trade body with membership, events, and policy advocacy, though focused more on shipping lines than port-side suppliers.
• Maritime UK: UK maritime industry trade body that brings together shipping, ports, marine services, engineering, and leisure marine sectors. Directly comparable to UK Ports as a sector-wide membership and advocacy organization, with overlapping member base across UK ports.

Broad incumbents

• European Sea Ports Organisation (ESPO): EU-level umbrella body representing port authorities across Europe on policy and sustainability. Comparable as a regional port-authority trade association with which UK Ports would interact via trade missions and policy advocacy, especially post-Brexit.
• American Association of Port Authorities (AAPA): The leading US trade association for port authorities, with advocacy, events, and training programs. Comparable as a larger, broader geographic port-authority trade body; UK Ports' New York office and US trade mission activity puts it in direct adjacency to AAPA's constituency.
• International Association of Ports and Harbors (IAPH): Global alliance of port authorities representing more than 180 ports in 90 countries. Comparable as the global-level port trade body, intersecting with UK Ports' international scope (143 countries) and member base of port authorities.
• British International Freight Association (BIFA): UK trade association for the freight forwarding and logistics industry. Comparable as a UK-headquartered trade body with tiered membership, events, training, and policy advocacy serving companies that interact with UK ports.

Others

• International Maritime Organization (IMO): UN specialized agency regulating international shipping. Not a commercial peer, but adjacent as the global regulatory authority whose updates drive demand for UK Ports' Monitored Email Alerts and member intelligence services.

Emerging players

• Port Strategy / Lloyd's List: Maritime business intelligence and media brands covering ports and shipping globally. Comparable to UK Ports in providing commercial intelligence and event/content platforms for the port sector, with stronger digital-native distribution than a print-led quarterly.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/uk-ports-ltd1
• Facebookfacebook.com/ukports
• Xx.com/ukportsplc

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 UK Ports