Inchcape-McKay

What Inchcape-McKay does

Inchcape Shipping Services, operating through its UK-registered parent ISS Group Holdings Ltd, is a global port agency and marine services provider for commercial shipping. The company delivers end-to-end port call services including full port agency, protective agency, bunker agency, canal transit, husbandry, and dry docking coordination, complemented by marine services covering machinery, survey and inspection, project logistics, and supply chain solutions. Its operational footprint spans 260 offices across 60 countries and covers approximately 2,200 ports, representing roughly 85% of global maritime routes, supported by 3,200+ employees.

The technology stack is built around three proprietary digital platforms layered on top of the physical agency network: OneCape (with HUB and DA modules for documentation and administration management), the Optic Platform (operational workflow management accessed via iss-optic.com), and World of Ports (port intelligence and data platform at worldofports.com). The company also runs specialized sub-brands including ISS Machinery Services, ISS Assistance Services, and ISS Palumbo for adjacent marine service lines.

Revenue is generated through two primary mechanisms: professional services fees tied to port agency engagements, machinery work, surveys, and project logistics; and subscription or usage fees from the digital platforms. Pricing is quote-based and negotiated directly with enterprise shipping operators. Customer mix spans tanker, dry bulk, liner, cruise, government, offshore, and ship manager verticals, with named enterprise clients including NYK, MOL, G2 Ocean, and HMM. The company is privately held with no disclosed parent, no venture or private equity backing, and no public revenue figures.

Name

Inchcape-McKay

Legal name

ISS Group Holdings Ltd

Website

https://iss-mckay.co.nz

Company type

Private

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

Inchcape Shipping Services is a UK-registered global port agency and marine services provider operating across 260 offices in 60 countries, serving enterprise shipping operators with port calls, marine services, and proprietary digital documentation and intelligence platforms.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Maritime Port Agency & Marine Services

NAICS

Other Support Activities for Water Transportation (48839), Support Activities for Water Transportation (4883)

SIC

Services-Facilities Support Management Services (8744)

akta.pro primary industry

Offshore/Remote Port Call & Anchorage Services (Launch Boats, Crew Boats, Supply Runs) (TLAHAJAM)

akta.pro secondary industries

Maritime EDI / API Connectivity & Messaging Networks (TLAHAOAE), Ocean Container Visibility (Vessel, Container, Demurrage/Detention) (TLAEADAF)

Keywords

• Port agency services
• Marine services
• Maritime logistics
• Ship agency services
• Port operations

Headquarters

HQ city

London

HQ country

United Kingdom

HQ region

Europe

Offices2 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. Port Agency Services: Fees for port agency representation including full agency, protective agency, bunker agency, canal transit, husbandry services, and dry docking coordination
2. Marine Services: Revenue from machinery services, survey and inspection, and project logistics services
3. Digital Solutions: Subscription and usage fees for digital platforms including World of Ports, OneCape, and Optic Platform

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels1 record

Marketing channels4 records

Core offering

Inchcape Shipping Services is a global provider of port agency, marine services, and digital solutions serving shipping companies across more than 2,200 ports worldwide. The company delivers end-to-end port call support — including full/protective/bunker agency, canal transit, husbandry services, and dry docking — alongside marine services such as machinery support, survey and inspection, and project logistics. Its proprietary digital platforms (OneCape, World of Ports, Optic) provide documentation management, port intelligence, and operational technology for maritime operations.

Product overview

Inchcape Shipping Services operates as a global provider of port agency, marine services, and digital solutions. The company offers a platform-plus-services model combining traditional maritime agency services with proprietary digital tools. The core Port Agency service includes full port agency, protective agency, bunker agency, canal transit, husbandry services, and dry docking. Marine Services provides machinery services, survey and inspection, project logistics, and supply chain solutions. The digital portfolio includes OneCape (documentation management platform with HUB and DA modules), World of Ports (port intelligence platform), and the Optic Platform for operational management. Additional specialized services cover machinery, assistance, and ship management through dedicated branded platforms.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• OneCape: DA Management platform for streamlined documentation and compliance
• World of Ports
• Optic Platform
• ISS Assistance Services
• ISS Machinery Services
• ISS Palumbo

Named customers4 records

Segments7 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature3 records

Partnerships

Six partnerships are on record, tiered minor.

• International Maritime Pilots Association (IMPA)minorOthersIndustry association membership providing access to maritime pilot network and industry best practices
• FPAL (Fuelling & Pilotage Association)minorOthersIndustry membership for fuel and pilotage services coordination in the UK maritime sector
• UK Chamber of ShippingminorOthersMembership in shipping industry trade association representing UK shipping sector interests
• IntertankominorOthersMembership in International Association of Independent Tanker Owners representing tanker shipping industry interests
• AchillesminorOthersPre-qualification and supplier management services for the maritime industry
• Maritime LondonminorOthersIndustry membership promoting London as a center for maritime services

Scale indicators5 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Broad incumbents

• Bolloré Logistics: Bolloré Logistics is a global freight forwarding and logistics provider with port-related services that intersects with ISS's project logistics and marine services capabilities, though within a much broader multimodal portfolio.
• Kongsberg Maritime: Kongsberg Maritime supplies marine automation, navigation, and digital twin solutions to ship operators — comparable to ISS's digital ambitions around the Optic Platform, but operating from a broader technology portfolio.
• Wärtsilä: Wärtsilä is a broad marine services and technology incumbent providing vessel services, lifecycle solutions, and digital maritime platforms — overlapping with ISS in marine services and digital solutions, but as part of a much wider portfolio.
• Synergy Group: Synergy is a global ship management and maritime services group that competes with ISS in serving ship managers and operators across technical management and crewing — overlapping in target customer and adjacent service offerings.
• V.Ships: V.Ships is a leading third-party ship management company that, like ISS's Ship Managers segment, provides operational and technical management services to shipowners — a comparable customer-overlap peer in the broader maritime services stack.

Direct peers

• GAC (Gulf Agency Company): GAC is one of the largest global ship agency and port services groups, offering full port agency, husbandry, bunker, and logistics across a comparable worldwide office network — the closest direct competitor to Inchcape Shipping Services.
• Norton Lilly International: Norton Lilly is a specialized ship agency group providing full port agency and husbandry services, primarily across the Americas — directly comparable to ISS in service scope and customer base.
• Wilhelmsen (Wilhelmsen Port Services): Wilhelmsen operates a global port services business providing ship agency, husbandry, and maritime logistics through an extensive international office network — directly overlapping with ISS's core port agency offering.

Emerging players

• Marcura: Marcura provides digital platforms (including DA Desk and PortLog) for port disbursement accounting and maritime operations — directly competitive with ISS's OneCape and World of Ports digital offerings, and a potential disintermediation threat to traditional agents.

Regional players

• China Merchants Port Holdings: China Merchants Port is a major regional port operator concentrated in Greater China and Belt-and-Road geographies — comparable to ISS in port-centric maritime services, but with a primarily regional and operator (rather than agent) model.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/inchcape-mckay

Compliance3 records

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles1 record

Subsidiaries5 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 Inchcape-McKay