Centro de Navegación
Centro de Navegación Argentina is a 125-year-old non-profit trade association in Buenos Aires that represents maritime transport interests for roughly 80–100 Argentine ship agencies, shipping lines, port terminals, and port authorities, delivering regulatory advocacy, the Mercuria customs IT platform, professional training, and the River Plate Shipping Guide.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded1900
- HeadquartersBuenos Aires, Argentina
- Headcount11–50
- GTM typeB2B
- OfferingServices
What Centro de Navegación does
Centro de Navegación Argentina (CNAV) is a Buenos Aires-based non-profit civil association founded on May 9, 1900, that represents the interests of maritime transport in Argentine waters and ports. It aggregates roughly 80–100 member organizations spanning ship agencies, ship owners, international shipping lines, port terminal operators, and port authorities, and serves as the sole Argentine representative for the FONASBA Quality Standard program and a member of BIMCO and CIANAM. Its mandate combines institutional representation before regulators and unions, legal/tax/customs advisory, professional training, and publication of the River Plate Shipping Guide.
The organization's core technological asset is the Mercuria platform, an IT system developed in conjunction with AFIP/ADUANA (now ARCA) that enables customs transport agents (ATA) to comply with RG AFIP 5110/2021 and RG AFIP 4940/2021, transmitting advance import manifest declarations and electronic fluvial MIC/DTA registration. Mercury of capabilities is supplemented by an exclusive member Digital Library of regulatory and historical documents, a continuous training program covering shipping agency operations, laytime, dangerous goods, and ATA regulations, modern coworking facilities in the Florida 537 headquarters, and the River Plate Shipping Guide flagship publication.
CNAV's business model is membership-fee driven with diversified ancillary streams: recurring annual membership dues from ship agencies, shipping lines, terminals, and port authorities; fee-based training courses offered to both members and the general public; one-time publication revenue from the River Plate Shipping Guide; and coworking space rental. Distribution is domestic Argentine via the Buenos Aires headquarters and regional committees in Zárate-Campana, Puerto Madryn, and Ushuaia, with international affiliations providing global maritime community access.
Centro de Navegación firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- Centro de Navegación
- Legal name
- Centro de Navegación Argentina
- Website
- https://centrodenavegacion.org.ar
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 1900
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 11–50 employees
- Short description
- Centro de Navegación Argentina is a 125-year-old non-profit trade association in Buenos Aires that represents maritime transport interests for roughly 80–100 Argentine ship agencies, shipping lines, port terminals, and port authorities, delivering regulatory advocacy, the Mercuria customs IT platform, professional training, and the River Plate Shipping Guide.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
Centro de Navegación industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Maritime Trade Association Services
- NAICS
- Business Associations (813910), Support Activities for Water Transportation (4883)
- SIC
- Services-Membership Organizations (8600)
- akta.pro primary industry
- Ship & Port Security Audits, Inspections & Certification (Flag/Class/PSC Support) (TLAHANAD)
- akta.pro secondary industry
- Navigation, Seamanship & Offshore Operations (EDAOANAE)
Keywords
Where Centro de Navegación is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Buenos Aires
- HQ country
- Argentina
- HQ region
- Latin America
Offices4 records
Markets served
Centro de Navegación business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2B
- Offering type
- Services
- Cost components
- Personnel, Operations, Technology or R&D, Marketing or Sales, Infrastructure
Revenue model
- Membership Fees: Annual membership fees from ship agencies, shipping companies, port authorities, terminals, and other maritime sector stakeholders. Membership provides access to all services including legal advice, training, Mercuria platform, coworking space, and digital library.
- Training Courses: Professional development courses including Shipping Agency I & II, Laytime, Dangerous Goods, Customs Transport Agent regime, and specialized maritime topics. Offered in hybrid and remote formats.
- River Plate Shipping Guide: Annual publication containing comprehensive port infrastructure information, waterway data, road/rail networks, and sector legislation. Available in book format and digital access.
- Coworking Space: Modern coworking facilities for members and their staff, equipped with WiFi, Zoom platform, refreshments, and lockers. Auditorium available for 60 people.
Pricing tiers
| Model | Billing | Price |
|---|---|---|
| Subscription | Multi-year contract | Agenciamiento Marítimo II Course - Members |
| Subscription | Multi-year contract | Agenciamiento Marítimo II Course - Non-members |
| Subscription | Multi-year contract | Agenciamiento I Course - Members |
| Subscription | Multi-year contract | Agenciamiento I Course - Non-members |
| Subscription | Multi-year contract | Laytime Course - Members |
| Subscription | Multi-year contract | Laytime Course - Non-members |
| Subscription | Multi-year contract | Mercancías Peligrosas Course - Members |
| Subscription | Multi-year contract | Mercancías Peligrosas Course - Non-members |
Go-to-market motion1 record
Distribution channels1 record
Marketing channels5 records
Centro de Navegación product offering
Product offeringCore offering
Centro de Navegación Argentina is a non-profit civil association that represents the interests of maritime transport in Argentine waters and ports. It provides its members (ship agencies, shipping lines, port terminals, and other maritime stakeholders) with the Mercuria customs documentation platform, a members-only digital library, professional training courses, legal/maritime/customs advisory services, a coworking facility, and the FONASBA Quality Standard international certification program.
Product overview
Centro de Navegación offers a portfolio of services centered on its core IT platform, Mercuria, which provides customs documentation transmission for Argentine maritime agencies. The organization supplements this with member-exclusive services including a Digital Library for regulatory research, Training programs covering shipping agency operations, dangerous goods handling, and customs regulations, and advisory services. The River Plate Shipping Guide serves as a flagship publication for the maritime trade sector. Additional offerings include FONASBA quality certification, coworking facilities, and representation services before authorities.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Brands
- Mercuria: An IT Platform developed by Centro de Navegación Argentina in conjunction with AFIP/Aduana, which allows all ship agents (members and non-members) to comply with official documentary requirements such as advance information of manifests and MIC/DTA electronic registration.
- River Plate Shipping Guide
Products and services
- Mercuria / Nodo Anticipada
- Biblioteca Digital (Digital Library)
- Capacitación (Training Services)
- Guía de la Navegación del Río de la Plata (River Plate Shipping Guide)
- Asesoramiento (Advisory Services)
- Coworking Space
- FONASBA Quality Standard
Quantifiable outcome
- 125 years of continuous operation representing Argentine maritime transport interests
- +1 more outcomes
Companies that use Centro de Navegación
Customer profileNamed customers15 records
Segments5 records
Ideal customer profiles4 records
Centro de Navegación technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed Yes
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Feature4 records
Centro de Navegación partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
Eleven partnerships are on record, tiered minor and core.
- Cámara del Asia (Asia Chamber)minorJoint event: Course on Chinese Protocol Applied to Business held March 21 at CNAV auditorium, organized by Cámara del Asia and Centro de Navegación.
- Puerto Dock SudminorSeminar co-organized on cabotage and merchant marine featuring Carla Monrabal, President of Puerto Dock Sud and Argentine Port Council.
- ITIC (International Transport Intermediaries Club)minorJoint event hosted at Centro de Navegación auditorium on November 15, 2023. ITIC representatives discussed functions and claims trends with members worldwide.
- Pandi Liquidadores SRLminorCo-organized ITIC event with Centro de Navegación. Presented on types of claims that agents have in Argentina.
- Instituto Iberoamericano de Derecho Marítimo (IIDM)minorJoint event with Argentina and UK branches: Maritime Arbitration in London lecture by Dr. Miquel Roca at CNAV auditorium on September 21, 2023.
- FONASBAcoreMember organization since establishment. Centro de Navegación serves as sole representative in Argentina for FONASBA Quality Standard program, developed and achieved approval of certification criteria for ship agents in Argentina.
- BIMCOcoreInternational membership organization providing connection for development of Argentine maritime transport and foreign trade through valuable exchange of experiences, information, and international positioning.
- CIANAMcoreMember of CIANAM (Centro de Investigación y Asistencia Naval Marítima) providing connection to international maritime community.
- AFIP / ADUANAcoreDeveloped Mercuria platform in conjunction with AFIP/ADUANA (now ARCA) for processing and transmitting import titles via waterway. System meets RG AFIP 5110/2021 and RG AFIP 4940/2021 requirements.
- Prefectura Naval ArgentinacoreOngoing institutional relationship for training and professional development. PNA conducts training sessions at CNAV facilities and participates in committee meetings. Recent visit by Prefect National PG Guillermo Giménez Pérez.
- Instituto Argentino de Estudios AduanerosminorCollaborative advocacy for customs reforms. Centro de Navegación sent joint note regarding Temporary Admission Regime for Foreign Container Registration.
Scale indicators5 records
Recent moves10 records
Expansion highlights5 records
Centro de Navegación competitors and assessment
Company assessmentBroad incumbents
- World Shipping Council: World Shipping Council is the international trade association for the global liner shipping industry, representing the operators of the container ships calling at Argentine ports (Maersk, MSC, CMA-CGM, Hapag-Lloyd, ONE, Cosco). It overlaps with Centro de Navegación in representing liner shipping policy interests and engaging with port and customs authorities.
- International Chamber of Shipping (ICS): ICS is the principal international trade association for the merchant shipping industry, representing around 80% of the world merchant tonnage. While broader and globally focused, it serves overlapping stakeholders (shipowners and operators including Maersk, MSC) and performs analogous advocacy, policy representation and information-sharing functions for its members.
- American Association of Port Authorities (AAPA): AAPA is a North American trade association representing public port authorities and their industry partners. While geographically and segmentally broader, it parallels Centro de Navegación's role in representing port stakeholders, advocating policy, and convening members on port-related maritime issues.
- INTERCARGO: INTERCARGO is the international association of dry bulk shipowners and operators, focused on promoting quality, safety, environmental and legal standards. It mirrors CNAV's combination of industry representation, technical advocacy and member-service orientation within a defined maritime segment.
- INTERTANKO: INTERTANKO is the international trade association for independent tanker operators, providing regulatory representation, technical guidance and industry standards for the tanker sector. Comparable to Centro de Navegación in role (membership-based maritime trade body providing advocacy, technical services and policy engagement) but with a narrower tank-segment focus.
Direct peers
- BIMCO: BIMCO is the world's largest international shipping association, providing contracts, standards and policy representation for shipowners, operators and agents. It is a strategic partner of Centro de Navegación and serves the same maritime trade community (shipowners, agents, charterers) with overlapping member companies such as Maersk and MSC.
- FONASBA (Federation of National Associations of Ship Brokers and Agents): FONASBA is the global umbrella federation of national ship broker and agent associations, of which Centro de Navegación is itself an Argentine member and sole local representative for the Quality Standard program. Highly comparable in function: a federation of national maritime agency associations, with overlapping membership profiles and standards-setting role.
- CIANAM (Centro de Investigación y Asistencia Naval Marítima): CIANAM is a Latin American maritime research and assistance body of which Centro de Navegación is a member. It is closely comparable as a regional maritime organization promoting naval/maritime research and supporting industry stakeholders.
Market position
Strengths4 records
Weaknesses5 records
Competitive moat6 records
Key risks6 records
Key highlights7 records
Customer concentration
Centro de Navegación social profiles
Digital presenceCentro de Navegación financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
Centro de Navegación leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles9 records
Centro de Navegación funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds
Investors
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Centro de Navegación M&A and investment
M&A and investmentM&A
Investments
M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Frequently asked questions about Centro de Navegación
What does Centro de Navegación do?
Centro de Navegación Argentina is a non-profit civil association that represents the interests of maritime transport in Argentine waters and ports. It provides its members (ship agencies, shipping lines, port terminals, and other maritime stakeholders) with the Mercuria customs documentation platform, a members-only digital library, professional training courses, legal/maritime/customs advisory services, a coworking facility, and the FONASBA Quality Standard international certification program.
Is Centro de Navegación a public or private company?
Centro de Navegación is a private company. It is classified as nonprofit foundation owned and is currently operating.
When was Centro de Navegación founded?
Centro de Navegación was founded in 1900. It employs 11 to 50 people.
Where is Centro de Navegación based?
Centro de Navegación is headquartered in Buenos Aires, Argentina, in the Latin America region.
How does Centro de Navegación make money?
Four revenue lines are on record. Membership Fees are the primary driver. The others are training Courses, river Plate Shipping Guide and coworking Space.
Who are Centro de Navegación's main competitors?
Broad incumbents on record are World Shipping Council, International Chamber of Shipping (ICS), American Association of Port Authorities (AAPA), INTERCARGO and INTERTANKO. Direct peers are BIMCO, FONASBA (Federation of National Associations of Ship Brokers and Agents) and CIANAM (Centro de Investigación y Asistencia Naval Marítima).
Does Centro de Navegación have an API?
No public API is recorded for Centro de Navegación.
What industry is Centro de Navegación in?
Centro de Navegación's product category is Maritime Trade Association Services. Its primary akta.pro industry code is TLAHANAD, Ship & Port Security Audits, Inspections & Certification (Flag/Class/PSC Support), with a secondary code of EDAOANAE, Navigation, Seamanship & Offshore Operations. Its NAICS code is 813910 and its SIC code is 8600.