What Marine Equipment Solutions does

Marine Equipment Solutions (MES) is a Seattle-headquartered, privately-held provider of marine and heavy civil construction equipment, formed in September 2024 through the unification of three legacy brands — Poseidon Barge, Rasmussen Equipment, and Portadam — and subsequently expanded through the acquisitions of Pacific Gulf Wire Rope (August 2025) and Humco Marine Products (October 2025), plus a joint venture with Netherlands-based Combifloat Group to form Poseidon Jackup (September 2025). The company manufactures, sells, and rents a comprehensive equipment portfolio spanning sectional barges (4' to 10' configurations), self-elevating jackup platforms (including the MES-C7 with 440 US ton variable deck load and 5,600 sq. ft. open deck), hydraulic and diesel-mechanical winches, cofferdam and water diversion systems, wire rope and rigging hardware up to 4-inch diameter, marine bearings, searchlights, deck fittings, and custom-fabricated solutions. Engineering, R&D, and fabrication are performed at a 140,000 sq. ft. ISO 9001:2015-certified plant in Berne, Indiana, supported by a 1.2 million lb test bed and a 100k-capacity wire rope spooling operation.

MES operates a direct field-sales go-to-market model through a national sales director and seven regional territory managers covering all major U.S. regions, supplemented by inside sales engineers, cofferdam estimators, and dedicated sales representatives. Four major operational hubs (Seattle, WA; Belle Chasse, LA; Williamstown, NJ; Berne, IN) plus additional distribution yards across the U.S., Canada, and Mexico provide deployment and project support. Revenue is generated through three streams: equipment rentals (recurring), direct equipment sales (one-time), and custom fabrication/engineering services (project-based), all priced via project-specific quotes. Customers primarily consist of marine and heavy civil construction contractors, barge and tugboat operators, ports and terminals, energy and pipeline companies, water resource authorities, and commercial vessel operators.

The company's competitive positioning rests on a single-source value proposition — bundling equipment, engineering, and project support from six subsidiary brands — combined with Jones Act-compliant U.S. manufacturing, proprietary technology (Portadam cofferdam system with 6,000+ completed projects; MES 50 hydraulic winch developed with Timberland Equipment Limited), and ISO-certified fabrication capabilities. CEO Dan Ellis has driven an aggressive growth-through-acquisition strategy, with key leadership including President Keith Plaisance (Pacific Gulf Wire Rope), President Steve Holtgrewe (Humco Marine), and VP Operations/Engineering Jeff Emch (Licensed Naval Architect).

Name

Marine Equipment Solutions

Legal name

Marine Equipment Solutions

Website

https://marineequipmentsolutions.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

2024

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

Marine Equipment Solutions is a Seattle-based, privately-held provider of marine and heavy civil construction equipment, offering sectional barges, jackup platforms, winches, cofferdams, wire rope, and rigging through rental, sales, and custom fabrication to contractors across North America.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Marine Construction Equipment

NAICS

Ship Building and Repairing (336611), Overhead Traveling Crane, Hoist, and Monorail System Manufacturing (333923), Construction Machinery Manufacturing (333120)

SIC

Ship & Boat Building & Repairing (3730), Construction, Mining & Materials Handling Machinery & Equip (3530), Services-Miscellaneous Equipment Rental & Leasing (7350), General Industrial Machinery & Equipment (3560)

akta.pro primary industry

Cargo Handling & Lifting Equipment (Cranes, Derricks, Hoists) (IMAJAIAB)

akta.pro secondary industries

Deck Fittings & Hardware (Bitts, Fairleads, Cleats, Anchors & Chains) (IMAJAIAK), Marine MRO Parts & Consumables Distribution (TLAKAOAJ), Marine Terminals & Cargo Handling Infrastructure (RoRo, Bulk, Container) (IMAFAJAF)

Keywords

• Marine construction equipment
• Sectional barges
• Cofferdam systems
• Wire rope rigging
• Heavy civil construction

Headquarters

HQ city

Seattle

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices13 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Hardware or Manufacturing

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. Equipment Rentals: Marine construction equipment including sectional barges, winches, hydraulic power units, mooring systems, rigging hardware, and cofferdam systems available for rent across North America through a nationwide fleet and distribution network.
2. Equipment Sales: Direct sale of marine construction equipment including sectional barges, jackup platforms, winches, wire rope, rigging hardware, marine bearings, searchlights, deck fittings, safety products, and replacement parts.
3. Custom Fabrication & Engineering Services: In-house engineering, R&D, and custom fabrication services including engineered mooring solutions, project-specific designs, on-site socket pours, inspections, and spooling services.
4. Rigging Storage Rentals: Rental-only rigging storage boxes for protecting shackles, slings, wire rope, and lifting hardware on marine construction jobsites. Provides flexible scaling without ownership burden.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels4 records

Core offering

Marine Equipment Solutions (MES) manufactures, sells, and rents marine and heavy civil construction equipment including sectional barges, self-elevating jackup platforms, hydraulic and mechanical winches, cofferdam/water diversion systems, wire rope and rigging hardware, and marine accessories. The company operates through a unified family of six specialized brands (Rasmussen, Poseidon Barge, Pacific Gulf Wire Rope, Portadam, Poseidon Jackup, and Humco Marine Products), supported by a 140,000 sq. ft. ISO-certified fabrication plant, in-house engineering, and regional service hubs across North America.

Product overview

Marine Equipment Solutions (MES) is a unified brand combining six marine construction equipment companies: Rasmussen Equipment, Poseidon Barge, Portadam, Pacific Gulf Wire Rope, Poseidon Jackup, and Humco Marine Products. The company operates as a single-source provider of marine construction equipment, offering a comprehensive portfolio that includes Sectional Barges (4', 5', 7', 10') and Self-Elevating Jackup Platforms (MES-C7), winches (hydraulic, diesel mechanical, pneumatic, electric, manual), wire rope and rigging supplies, the Portadam cofferdam and water diversion system, marine bearings, searchlights, deck hardware, and custom fabrication services. MES provides both equipment sales and rentals nationwide through strategically located service hubs, supported by in-house engineering, R&D, and a 140,000 sq. ft. ISO-certified fabrication facility.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• Rasmussen: Marine construction equipment rentals including winches, mooring packages, and engineered solutions
• Poseidon
• Pacific Gulf Wire Rope
• Portadam
• Poseidon Jackup
• Humco Marine Products

Products and services

• Sectional Barges Modular sectional barges in 4 ft, 5 ft, 7 ft, and 10 ft configurations for marine construction, bridge work, and dredging operations. Manufactured by Poseidon Barge and rented/sold by Rasmussen Equipment for marine and heavy civil construction contractors.
• MES-C7 Self-Elevating Platform Modular self-elevating sectional barge with 440 US ton variable deck load, 3,070 lb/ft² deck strength, and 5,600 ft² open deck. Jones Act-compliant, designed for ports, terminals, jetties, breakwaters, bridges, pipelines, and offshore facilities.
• MES 50 Hydraulic Winch Heavy-duty hydraulic winch combining traditional friction unit strength with hydraulic drive technology and precision controls. Features diesel or electric hydraulic power units with Tier 4 engines, IP56-rated electric motors, joystick controls, spring-applied brakes, and mechanical locking dogs. Developed with Timberland Equipment Limited.
• Cofferdams (Portadam System) Portable water diversion and cofferdam system for bridges, dams, remediation, and shoreline stabilization. Engineered, flexible design with rapid deployment and minimal environmental impact as an alternative to sheet piling.
• Wire Rope and Rigging Hardware Wire rope, synthetic ropes, slings, and rigging hardware including large diameter wire rope up to 4 inch. Distributed and serviced by Pacific Gulf Wire Rope for marine, construction, and industrial customers.
• Forcetra HMPE Rope High-performance 12-strand HMPE (High-Modulus Polyethylene) rope with exceptional tensile strength-to-weight ratio, high abrasion resistance, low elongation, and simple splicing. Diameters from 3/8 inch through 3 inch.
• Hydraulic Power Units (HPUs) Power units that operate Pullmaster and Lantec winches in the Rasmussen rental fleet. Available in diesel and electric configurations with Tier 4 engines for environmental compliance.
• Marine Bearings Marine bearings and replacement parts for vessel systems. Distributed and serviced by Humco Marine Products.
• Searchlights Marine searchlights including Carlsle & Finch Searchlights for vessel operations and construction sites. Distributed by Humco Marine Products.
• Lighting Solutions Heavy-duty marine and worksite lighting including Carlsle & Finch Searchlights, McDermott Heavy Duty Marine Floodlights, and Phoenix LED lighting systems in AC and DC configurations.
• Marine Deck Hardware Marine deck hardware including fairleads, deckleads, anchors, spuds and pockets, fenders and fender systems, and barge rakes and ramps for marine construction and vessel operations.
• Custom Fabrication Services In-house custom fabrication services for tailored marine equipment solutions, including project-specific designs, on-site socket pours, inspections, and spooling services, backed by a 140,000 sq. ft. ISO 9001:2015 certified fabrication plant.
• Water Diversion Services Temporary water control and diversion solutions for in-water construction, dam repair, and infrastructure projects, delivered through engineering consultation and Portadam cofferdam systems.

Quantifiable outcome

• 6,000+ successful cofferdam projects completed worldwide
• +3 more outcomes

Named customers7 records

Segments6 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature6 records

Partnerships

Two partnerships are on record, tiered core.

• Timberland Equipment LimitedcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 26 February 2026Partnership to develop the MES 50 hydraulic winch. Timberland is a globally recognized leader in engineered winches since 1947. MES is the exclusive North American distributor of Timberland products. Combined experience exceeds 130 years. First public debut at ConExpo 2026.
• Combifloat GroupcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 30 September 2025Joint venture partnership between Combifloat Group (Netherlands) and Poseidon Barge (US) with MES backing to bring modular jackup technology to North America. Combifloat provides global engineering expertise in modular floating and self-elevating platforms. Poseidon provides US manufacturing strength and Jones Act compliance. Joint venture established September 30, 2025.

Scale indicators14 records

Recent moves11 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Broad incumbents

• Sunbelt Rentals: Sunbelt Rentals is a top-tier industrial and construction equipment rental provider with broad specialty and general equipment lines; overlaps with MES in heavy construction equipment rentals to enterprise contractors but at vastly larger scale.
• United Rentals: United Rentals is the largest equipment rental company in the world, with significant exposure to construction and industrial customers and far broader geographic and product coverage than MES; competes for large contractor accounts across multiple verticals.
• H&E Equipment Services: H&E Equipment Services is a publicly traded equipment rental distributor serving industrial and construction customers with aerial, earthmoving, and material handling equipment. Comparable in end-market but more diversified than MES's marine-focused portfolio.

Direct peers

• Donjon Marine: Donjon Marine offers marine salvage, dredging, and environmental services with a large fleet of barges, tugboats, and marine equipment. Overlaps with MES in marine equipment operations and same heavy civil/waterfront customer set.
• Weeks Marine: Weeks Marine provides dredging, marine construction, and tunneling services, operating a fleet of marine equipment including barges, cranes, and tugs for the same heavy civil and waterfront infrastructure customers MES serves.
• Orion Marine Group: Orion Marine Group is a publicly traded marine construction services contractor that owns and operates a fleet of barges, cranes, and dive support vessels to serve bridge, port, and energy infrastructure customers — directly comparable end markets and equipment to MES.
• Caldwell Marine International: Caldwell Marine International is a marine construction and submarine cable installation contractor — a current MES customer on the CHPE project — that operates its own fleet of barges and marine equipment comparable to what MES rents and fabricates.
• Bisso Marine: Bisso Marine provides heavy lift, salvage, and marine construction services, operating a comparable fleet of barges, winches, and rigging assets for the same marine/heavy civil customer base. Most direct comparable to MES's combined rental and project support model.
• Great Lakes Dredging & Dock Company: GLDD is the largest U.S. provider of dredging services, operating a sizeable fleet of hopper and pipeline dredges plus barges and tugboats. Comparable to MES in serving marine/heavy civil construction with proprietary equipment and engineering.

Others

• Combifloat Group: Combifloat Group is the Dutch partner in MES's Poseidon Jackup JV and the licensor of modular floating and self-elevating platform technology. Operates the same product family globally but does not directly compete with MES inside the Jones Act-restricted U.S. market.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat6 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights8 records

Customer concentration

• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/marine-equipment-solutions

Compliance2 records

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles8 records

Subsidiaries6 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 Marine Equipment Solutions