Nova Marine Carriers

What Nova Marine Carriers does

Nova Marine Carriers SA is a Swiss-incorporated maritime shipping group headquartered in Lugano that operates a diversified dry-bulk and cement carrier platform of approximately 100 vessels with around 1,500,000 deadweight tons of capacity, completing roughly 2,000 voyages per year and transporting 26 million tonnes of cargo in 2023. Originating from Captain Giovanni Romeo's 1981 acquisition of M/V MAYA, the group is controlled by the Romeo and Gozzi families with Vincenzo Romeo serving as CEO, and runs a multi-brand structure that includes the wholly-owned Nova Ship Tech (technical management), Nova Marine Logistics (integrated forwarding/warehousing/multimodal), and NovaLevantina (Mediterranean operations), alongside material joint ventures: NovaAlgoma Cement Carriers (NACC) and NovaAlgoma Short-Sea Carriers (NASC) with Algoma Central Corporation, the Aug. Bolten dry-bulk pool in Germany, JT Cement in Northern Europe, and DNA Shipping with Peter Döhle. The company's product surface spans fleet sizes from 5,000 to 66,000 DWT including Mini Bulk, Handymax, self belt-unloader, Handysize, Supramax, and pneumatic cement carriers.

Operationally the platform serves leading international charterers — including long-term contracts with Holcim (methanol cement carrier), Marcegaglia (European cabotage), Duferco (steel logistics), and a major European power utility for carbon-neutral woodchip voyages — across Mediterranean, Atlantic, Middle East, Northern Europe, North America, Black Sea, and increasingly Oceania trade lanes. Technically, the fleet incorporates AI-powered weather routing for fuel optimization, an in-house emissions monitoring and forecasting system developed by Nova's data scientists, dual-fuel methanol/LNG capability, cold ironing, waste heat recovery, and air lubrication systems, alongside formal signatory status on the Sea Cargo Charter and Poseidon Principles.

The revenue model rests on B2B chartering — time charters, voyage charters, and freight contracts — negotiated directly with charterers and cargo owners through a global chartering organization and supplemented by commercial management fees for third-party vessels, port terminal revenue from the Amsterdam operations, and integrated logistics services. In July 2025 the group sold a 51% controlling stake in NACC to DP World's P&O Maritime while expanding the surrounding ecosystem through JV-driven acquisitions and new market entries.

Name

Nova Marine Carriers

Legal name

Nova Marine Carriers SA

Website

https://novamarinecarriers.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

2009

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

501–1,000 employees

Short description

Nova Marine Carriers is a Lugano-headquartered maritime shipping group operating roughly 100 dry-bulk and pneumatic cement vessels for international charterers, managing a multi-JV platform across cement, short-sea bulk, steel cabotage and port logistics.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Maritime Shipping and Bulk Cargo Transportation

NAICS

Support Activities for Water Transportation (4883), Marine Cargo Handling (488320), Port and Harbor Operations (488310), Ship Building and Repairing (336611)

SIC

Water Transportation (4400), Deep Sea Foreign Transportation Of Freight (4412), Ship & Boat Building & Repairing (3730)

akta.pro primary industry

Bulk Dry Cargo Carriers (Capesize/Panamax/Supramax/Handysize) (TLADABAC)

Keywords

• Maritime shipping services
• Dry bulk carriers
• Cement carrier shipping
• Short-sea shipping
• Vessel chartering services

Headquarters

HQ city

Lugano

HQ country

Switzerland

HQ region

Europe

Offices9 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Operations, Personnel, Infrastructure, Technology or R&D, Supply Chain, Marketing or Sales

Revenue model

1. Maritime Freight and Chartering Services: Nova Marine Carriers generates revenue through maritime freight services, providing shipping solutions to international charterers. The company operates a fleet of vessels and provides commercial management services, earning revenue through freight rates, time charters, and voyage charters. Revenue is derived from transporting bulk cargo including cement, grains, steel, and other dry bulk commodities across Mediterranean, Atlantic, Middle East, and European cabotage routes.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels4 records

Core offering

Nova Marine Carriers operates a diversified fleet of approximately 100 owned, chartered, and managed vessels ranging from 5,000 to 66,000 DWT, providing maritime bulk cargo transportation and chartering services. The company specializes in transporting cement, grains, steel, and other dry bulk commodities across Mediterranean, Atlantic, Middle East, and European cabotage routes. The group also offers integrated logistics services, port terminal operations, and technical vessel management through its subsidiaries and joint ventures.

Product overview

Nova Marine Carriers is a shipping and logistics group that operates as a unified platform with multiple specialized product lines. The core offering centers on their owned and managed fleet of 100+ vessels (bulk carriers, cement carriers, and belt self-unloading vessels ranging from 5,000 to 66,000 DWT). This fleet is complemented by subsidiary brands: NovaAlgoma Cement Carriers (NACC) for pneumatic cement transport, NovaAlgoma Short-Sea Carriers (NASC) for short-sea dry bulk, Nova Marine Logistics for port operations and multimodal transport, Nova Ship Tech for technical management, and NovaLevantina for Mediterranean operations. Recent vertical integration includes port terminal acquisitions (Maja Terminal, VCK Port Logistics) enabling end-to-end supply chain services.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• Nova Ship Tech: Group's technical arm responsible for vessel technical management, maintenance strategy, compliance, innovation, and fleet performance optimization
• Nova Marine Logistics
• NovaAlgoma Cement Carriers (NACC)
• NovaAlgoma Short-Sea Carriers (NASC)
• NovaLevantina

Products and services

• Maritime Fleet Chartering Services Direct chartering of bulk carrier and specialized vessels ranging from 5,000 to 66,000 DWT for international charterers transporting cement, grains, steel, and other dry bulk commodities across Mediterranean, Atlantic, Middle East, and European cabotage routes
• NovaAlgoma Cement Carriers (NACC) Joint venture global transportation of cement and fly-ashes using specialized pneumatic cement carriers, serving as one of the world's leading operators in this segment with services to key infrastructure markets worldwide
• NovaAlgoma Short-Sea Carriers (NASC) Joint venture providing global short-sea dry-bulk shipping services with a fleet of vessels ranging from 5,000 to 15,000 DWT, including owned ships, third-party commercial management, and chartered vessels
• Nova Marine Logistics - Integrated Forwarding Services Integrated logistics division providing port operations, warehousing, inland transport, multimodal coordination, customs representation, truck and rail transport, river transport through European inland waters, with end-to-end door-to-door service execution combining sea and Danube river transport
• Nova Ship Tech - Technical Vessel Management Group's technical arm providing vessel technical management, maintenance strategy, compliance, innovation, and fleet performance optimization services
• NovaLevantina Short-Sea Operations Short-sea shipping operations established in Monte Carlo for Mediterranean market coverage, providing regional chartering and shipping services
• NovaMar Logistic European Cabotage Services Joint venture under Maltese law between Marcegaglia and Nova Marine Carriers managing vessel operations on European cabotage routes for steel industry logistics, connecting raw material supply ports with industrial plants
• Port Terminal Operations - Amsterdam Port terminal operations in Amsterdam through Maja Terminal and VCK Port Logistics/Waterland Terminal providing stevedoring, loading/unloading, and storage services for bulk cargo with covered berths operating 24/7
• New Zealand Coastal Shipping Service Coastal shipping services to the Chatham Islands through a new multi-purpose vessel providing transport of containers, fuel, vehicles, and livestock

Quantifiable outcome

• Reduced CO2 emissions by more than 60% per year on cement shipments through methanol dual-fuel technology
• +4 more outcomes

Named customers5 records

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

AI capability2 records

Feature6 records

Partnerships

16 partnerships are on record, tiered core, strategic and minor.

• McCallum Bros LtdcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 30 September 202550/50 joint venture MBL/Nova Marine JV established with New Zealand's McCallum Bros (four generations of coastal shipping experience) for coastal shipping services to Chatham Islands. New multipurpose vessel expected to enter service mid-2027, capable of transporting containers, fuel, vehicles, and livestock.
• MarcegagliacoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 3 April 2025NovaMar Logistic established as Maltese company JV between Marcegaglia (steel industry leader) and Nova Marine Carriers, managing Sider Luck vessel on European cabotage routes connecting raw material ports with Marcegaglia plants in Ravenna and Fos-sur-Mer.
• ErshipcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 21 February 2025Spanish company Ership (family-owned with 140+ years history, operating in 40+ ports) partnered with Nova Marine and Aug. Bolten to acquire Maja Stuwadoors Groep BV and VCK Port Logistics in Amsterdam, gaining full control of bulk terminal infrastructure including the Waterland Terminal with 'one roof all weather' capability.
• WärtsilästrategicTechnology or Integration · 18 December 2024Wärtsilä supplying complete propulsion package for 38,000 DWT methanol-ready cement carrier including two Wärtsilä 32 engines, Wärtsilä 25 auxiliary engine, gearboxes, controllable pitch propellers, SCR exhaust after-treatment systems, and propulsion control system.
• KGJ Cement Holding ASstrategicStrategic or Co-development Partner · 17 December 2021KGJ Cement operates and manages independent pneumatic cement carriers trading worldwide with sizes ranging from 3,900 to 19,600 DWT. Initially held 25% of JT Cement before selling additional shares to NACC.
• Aug. BoltencoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2020Nova Marine Carriers partnered with Aug. Bolten, a German shipping company with nearly 240 years of history, establishing a joint venture for handysize drybulk pool operations. Nova acquired 50% stake in Aug. Bolten in 2021. The partnership includes joint asset management, commercial and pool operations, and ship management through Lydiamar in Athens.
• Peter Döhle Schiffahrts-KG (PDS)strategicStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 October 2018NASC and PDS created DNA Shipping joint venture for consolidation in multi-purpose project vessel (MPP) and 13,500 to 15,000 mini-grabber dry-bulk markets. The partnership created the largest mini-grabber pool in the world with 26 vessels, combining NASC's 12 vessels with PDS's 14 vessels.
• JT CementcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 4 June 2018NACC acquired 25% ownership interest in JT Cement, joining KGJ Cement Holdings and Erik Thun AB. NACC subsequently doubled its investment to 50% in 2021. JT Cement operates a fleet of seven to eight specialized pneumatic cement carriers in Northern Europe, including three LNG dual fuel newbuild vessels.
• Erik Thun ABstrategicStrategic or Co-development Partner · 4 June 2018Swedish family company (third generation) holding 50% of JT Cement alongside NACC. Erik Thun operates approximately 40-50 vessels in Northern Europe, specializing in coastal dry-cargo, self-unloading vessels, product tankers, and cement carriers.
• Algoma Central CorporationcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 19 April 201750/50 joint venture NovaAlgoma Short-Sea Carriers (NASC) created in April 2017, focusing on global short-sea dry-bulk shipping. NASC operates a fleet of approximately 70-72 vessels ranging from 5,000 to 15,000 DWT including owned ships, third-party commercial management, and chartered vessels.
• Algoma Central CorporationcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 201650/50 joint venture established in 2016 between Nova Marine Holding and Algoma Central Corporation (Canada) to form NovaAlgoma Cement Carriers (NACC) focused on global transportation of cement and fly-ashes using pneumatic cement carriers. NACC has grown to become one of the world's leading operators in this specialized segment.
• RINAstrategicTechnology or IntegrationItalian classification society RINA collaborating with Nova Marine technical department on vessel design, including the groundbreaking waste heat recovery system and cold ironing capabilities for the world's largest methanol-ready cement carrier.
• RINAstrategicTechnology or IntegrationRINA collaborated on design of new multipurpose vessel for New Zealand coastal shipping joint venture, providing technical expertise for vessel specifications and regulatory compliance.
• OD ShippingstrategicStrategic or Co-development PartnerHistoric broker of Marcegaglia Group that promoted and developed NovaMar Logistic joint venture, facilitating the partnership between Marcegaglia and Nova Marine Carriers.
• IFCHOR ClearBlue OceansminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerCarbon market specialist and international shipbroker that structured carbon offset trade for Nova Marine's first carbon-neutral voyage, sourcing high-quality offset projects and organizing certification through Verra's Verified Carbon Standard.
• GreenYellowminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerProject developer of Ambatolampy solar power plant in Madagascar, whose carbon credits enabled Nova Marine's first carbon-neutral voyage. GreenYellow recently announced plans to significantly expand the solar plant's output.

Scale indicators5 records

Recent moves15 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Direct peers

• Safe Bulkers: Dry bulk shipowner with a fleet of Panamax, Kamsarmax, Post-Panamax, and Capesize vessels. Comparable in serving industrial charterers (cement, steel, energy), Mediterranean and European trade route exposure, and family-influenced ownership.
• Spliethoff: Dutch family-owned shipping group operating geared dry-bulk, multi-purpose, and short-sea vessels in the 5,000–25,000 DWT range. Comparable in European short-sea focus, family ownership, industrial customer base, and project/general-cargo capabilities.
• Genco Shipping & Trading: Operator of Capesize, Ultramax, and Supramax dry bulk vessels on a mix of time charters and voyage contracts. Comparable in diversified vessel mix, spot/contract charter balance, and industrial cargo focus (iron ore, coal, grain, cement inputs).
• Algoma Central Corporation: Nova Marine's 50/50 joint venture partner in NACC and NASC and a direct operator of dry-bulk short-sea and Great Lakes shipping. Highly comparable in vessel mix (cement carriers, mini-bulkers, gearless bulkers), customer overlap with North American cement/steel producers, and Canadian corporate structure.
• Eagle Bulk Shipping: Operator of a Supramax/Ultramax dry bulk fleet with strong focus on minor bulk and niche industrial cargoes. Comparable in vessel size range overlap with NASC's 5,000–15,000 DWT mini-bulker segment and focus on higher-margin minor bulk trades.
• Star Bulk Carriers: Global dry bulk shipowner with ~100+ Newcastlemax/Capesize/Panamax/Supramax vessels. Comparable in scale (~100-vessel fleet, multi-million DWT), chartering model with industrial cargo owners, and exposure to dry bulk freight rate cyclicality.
• Diana Shipping: Dry bulk shipping company with fleet of Capesize, Kamsarmax, Panamax, and Ultramax vessels on time and voyage charters. Comparable in long-term industrial charter relationships, B2B GTM with major international charterers, and dry bulk cycle exposure.
• Wagenborg Shipping: Dutch family-owned shipping operator with dry-bulk, short-sea, and project cargo tonnage serving European and North Atlantic trades. Comparable in family-controlled governance, European cabotage/short-sea focus, and customer overlap with industrial cargo owners.

Broad incumbents

• Euroports: Major European port terminal operator handling dry bulk, breakbulk, and containers across multiple ports. Comparable to Nova's port terminal operations in Amsterdam (Maja/Waterland) as a vertical integration play, though much larger and broader in scope.

Emerging players

• JT Cement: Specialist operator of pneumatic cement carriers in Northern Europe, in which NACC holds a 50% stake. Direct comparable in vessel type (pneumatic cement carriers), geography (Northern Europe including LNG dual-fuel newbuilds), and customer base.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat6 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/nova-marine-carriers-sa
• Xx.com/NovaMarineSA
• Facebookfacebook.com/novamarinecarriers

Compliance4 records

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles17 records

Subsidiaries10 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 Nova Marine Carriers