Seaforth Shipping

What Seaforth Shipping does

Seaforth Shipping (K) Ltd is a privately held East African ship agency and logistics provider founded in Kenya in 1980. The company operates from offices in Mombasa and Nairobi (Kenya) and Dar es Salaam (Tanzania), employing more than 50 people, and positions itself as the leading independent shipping agency in East Africa with over 10,000 vessels handled cumulatively.

The company delivers a suite of ship agency and logistics services — port agency and husbandry, cargo services, projects and logistics, manning and crew welfare, navy and cruise support, consultancy and research, financial transaction services, and offshore security — executed by on-the-ground teams providing 24/7 vessel support. No proprietary technology platform is described; service delivery is people-led, relying on established relationships with port authorities, defence attaches, and regional stakeholders. The company also publishes Tradetalk, a regular blog and market intelligence resource covering East African port news, tariffs, and trade statistics.

Seaforth generates revenue through professional-service fees for vessel agency appointments, cargo handling, and logistics coordination. Pricing is quote-based per vessel and scope, with no publicly disclosed rate cards. Go-to-market is sales-led via direct engagement with shipping companies, commodity traders, and cargo owners, supported by content marketing through Tradetalk and corporate social channels. The 2001 partnership with GAC (Gulf Agency Company) provides global network reach while Seaforth retains independent ownership. Customer logos include Shell, Yara, Wilmar, Vitol, Gunvor, Bunge, Samsung, PetroChina, Maaden, LDC, ETG, Seaboard, Hoyer Group, Scan Global Logistics, Drewry, and the WFP.

Name

Seaforth Shipping

Legal name

Seaforth Shipping (K) Ltd

Website

https://seaforthke.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

1980

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

Seaforth Shipping is a privately held East African ship agency and logistics provider, founded in Kenya in 1980, delivering port agency, cargo, manning, and related services from offices in Mombasa, Nairobi, and Dar es Salaam to global shippers, commodity traders, and cargo owners.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Ship Agency & Maritime Logistics Services

NAICS

Port and Harbor Operations (488310), Marine Cargo Handling (48832), Support Activities for Water Transportation (4883)

SIC

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

akta.pro primary industry

Terminal Cargo Handling & Yard Operations (Receiving, Staging, Delivery) (TLAHALAB)

akta.pro secondary industry

Stevedoring & Vessel Loading/Discharging (Ship-to-Shore Operations) (TLAHALAA)

Keywords

• Ship agency services
• Port logistics
• Vessel husbandry
• Cargo handling
• Maritime services

Headquarters

HQ city

Mombasa

HQ country

Kenya

HQ region

Africa

Offices3 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Infrastructure, Marketing or Sales

Revenue model

1. Ship Agency Services: Seaforth provides ship agency services including port agency, husbandry, cargo services, projects and logistics, manning, navy and cruise services, consultancy, finance, and offshore services. Revenue is generated through service fees for facilitating vessel operations, cargo handling, and logistics coordination at East African ports.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels1 record

Marketing channels5 records

Core offering

Seaforth Shipping is an independent ship agency and logistics provider serving East African ports, delivering port agency and husbandry, cargo handling, project logistics, crew manning, navy and cruise support, consultancy and research, finance, and offshore security services. The company operates through offices in Mombasa and Nairobi (Kenya) and Dar es Salaam (Tanzania), providing 24/7 on-the-ground coordination to expedite vessel turnaround and cargo movement for shipping companies, traders, and naval operators.

Product overview

Seaforth Shipping is a shipping agency and logistics company operating across East Africa, offering a unified suite of services rather than a modular software product. Their core portfolio centers on port agency and husbandry services, complemented by cargo handling, project logistics, manning and crew services, navy and cruise support, consultancy and research, finance services, and offshore security. The company also publishes Tradetalk, a market intelligence resource covering port data, tariff updates, and trade statistics for the region. Services are delivered through offices in Mombasa, Nairobi (Kenya), and Dar es Salaam (Tanzania), with 24/7 on-the-ground support to facilitate faster vessel turnaround and cargo movement.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Port Agency & Husbandry Manages vessel port operations, port formalities, and husbandry services to facilitate efficient ship entry, berthing, and departure at East African ports for shipping companies and vessel operators.
• Cargo Services Manages cargo handling, documentation, and logistics to ensure safe and timely delivery of goods for traders and cargo owners moving commodities through East African ports.
• Projects & Logistics Provides comprehensive project logistics solutions as a one-stop shop for complex cargo movement for clients with non-standard or oversized shipments.
• Manning Services Manages seafarer welfare and crew recruitment for vessels calling at East African ports, including crew transfers and requirements support.
• Navy & Cruise Services Provides specialized services for navy and cruise vessels with a focus on security, safety, and protocol compliance for military and cruise operators.
• Consultancy & Research Offers expert shipping and logistics consultancy along with market research services for clients and investors needing port and trade insights.
• Finance Services Provides financial transaction services with emphasis on speed and transparency, including prompt and accurate FDA dispatch for vessel calls.
• Offshore & Security Delivers round-the-clock offshore support and security services for vessels operating in or transiting East African waters.
• Tradetalk Industry news and statistics publication covering East African shipping, port news, tariff updates, trade statistics, and market commentary for clients and the wider shipping community.

Quantifiable outcome

• 40+ years operating in East Africa, >10,000 ships handled

Named customers16 records

Segments3 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

One partnership is on record.

• GAC (Gulf Agency Company)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2001In 2001, Seaforth partnered with GAC (Gulf Agency Company) in both Kenya and Tanzania. This partnership gives Seaforth global reach while providing GAC with a solid East African presence. The relationship enables Seaforth to leverage GAC's international network while maintaining its local expertise.

Scale indicators4 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights4 records

Direct peers

• GAC (Gulf Agency Company): Global ship agency and logistics provider with full East African presence through its long-standing partnership with Seaforth. Directly comparable as a port agent offering vessel husbandry, cargo coordination, and husbandry services across multiple geographies.
• Wilhelmsen (Wilhelmsen Port Services): Global maritime services group with a dedicated ship agency and port services division. Comparable as a multi-port ship agent providing vessel husbandry, cargo handling coordination, and port formalities worldwide, including Africa.
• Inchcape Shipping Services: Global ship agency and maritime services provider offering port agency, husbandry, and cargo services across major trading regions. Operates an African agency network directly competing for ship agency appointments on the same routes as Seaforth.

Regional players

• Transmar (Transmarine): Regional African and Middle Eastern shipping agency providing vessel agency and port services. Comparable as a ship agent with regional rather than global footprint, competing for the same East African port-call business.
• Africa Cargo Handling Limited: East African cargo handling and logistics firm operating in Kenya and the wider region. Comparable as an adjacent port-services provider competing for overlapping cargo coordination and logistics work in the same geography.

Others

• Svitzer: Global towage and port services operator (Maersk group) with African port presence. Thematically related as a port-services provider that shares port-authority relationships and could partner with or compete against ship agents for port-call revenue.
• Drewry Shipping Consultants: Maritime research and consultancy firm that is both a customer of Seaforth (per customer list) and a broader maritime-services ecosystem player. Comparable as an adjacent maritime-services provider offering consultancy and market research similar to Seaforth's own advisory line.

Broad incumbents

• CMA CGM Shipping Agency: Shipping line with integrated port agency operations across African ports. Comparable as a ship agent on the same routes but operating as part of a top-3 global ocean carrier with broader service portfolio.
• Mitchell Cotts (Maersk Logistics & Services): Historic East African shipping agency now part of Maersk. Overlapping ship agency heritage in Kenya and Tanzania with similar customer mix of traders, NGOs, and energy companies, but operating as part of a global logistics conglomerate with vastly larger scale.
• Maersk Agency: Ship agency arm of A.P. Moller-Maersk offering vessel agency and husbandry services globally. Comparable as a port agent but operating at much larger scale and integrated with one of the world's largest ocean carriers.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Facebookfacebook.com/profile.php
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/seaforth-shipping-k-ltd
• Instagraminstagram.com/seaforth_shipping_kenya

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles6 records

Subsidiaries1 record

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 Seaforth Shipping