Offshore Marine Service Association

What Offshore Marine Service Association does

Offshore Marine Service Association (OMSA) is a U.S. trade association founded around 1970 and headquartered at 935 Gravier Street, Suite 1120, New Orleans, Louisiana. It represents 170 member companies — approximately 60 offshore marine service vessel operators (tugs, supply, utility, crew, liftboats, geophysical, cargo, pipelay barges, survey/standby, diving support vessels) and approximately 110 associate service providers (shipyards, naval architects, surveyors, consultants, ship brokers, equipment manufacturers, training providers, financial institutions, attorneys, and accountants) — collectively employing roughly 12,000 U.S. workers across the Gulf of Mexico, Atlantic coast, and emerging offshore wind markets. A 36-person OMSA staff, led by President & CEO Aaron Smith, conducts the association's programs.

OMSA's core activities are regulatory advocacy and member services rather than technology product development. Key programs include the Jones Act Enforcer (a vessel that documents potential Jones Act violations), the OMSA Alternative Security Plan (the first USCG-approved ASP with cybersecurity provisions, delivered in partnership with The Response Group), the Vessel General Permit Manual for EPA compliance, the American Offshore Worker Fairness Act (AOWFA) legislative campaign, the Maritime in America Podcast, monthly newsletters and weekly Fast Fact regulatory alerts, and conferences plus committee meetings (including a Wind Committee and a Workforce Development Committee). The association has secured documented policy outcomes such as the 2025 USCG Portable Accommodation Module policy reform, the Merchant Mariner Credential grace period extension (from one to six years), and the 2021 NDAA's OCSLA provision extending to offshore wind.

OMSA operates a membership-based, subscription-recurring revenue model funded primarily through annual dues from two tiers: Regular Members (vessel operating companies) and Associate Members (industry service providers). Pricing is not publicly disclosed; prospective members apply through the website or by contacting staff. Distribution is direct (enterprise-style membership sales) with a small e-commerce merchandise line (Jones Act Enforcer branded items) targeting individuals. Go-to-market relies on advocacy outcomes, networking events, conferences, and committee meetings to attract and retain members, with brand presence across YouTube, Spotify, Apple Podcasts, Facebook, LinkedIn, X, Instagram, and earned media.

Name

Offshore Marine Service Association

Legal name

Offshore Marine Service Association

Website

https://offshoremarine.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

1970

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

Offshore Marine Service Association (OMSA) is a U.S. trade association founded around 1970 that represents 170 member companies and 12,000 employees in the offshore marine transportation industry, advocating for Jones Act enforcement and regulatory reform before Congress and federal agencies.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Maritime Trade Association Services

NAICS

Regulation, Licensing, and Inspection of Miscellaneous Commercial Sectors (92615)

SIC

Services-Membership Organizations (8600), Oil & Gas Field Services, Nec (1389)

akta.pro primary industry

Regulatory & Sanctions Compliance Screening for Maritime Operations (Trade Controls, AML) (TLAHANAL)

akta.pro secondary industry

Offshore Wind & Marine Spatial Planning Regulation (EUAMANAM)

Keywords

• Offshore marine services
• Maritime trade association
• Jones Act enforcement
• Vessel security programs
• Maritime regulatory advocacy

Headquarters

HQ city

New Orleans

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Marketing or Sales, Operations, Others

Revenue model

1. Membership Dues: OMSA generates revenue through annual membership dues from Regular Members (vessel operators) and Associate Members (service providers including shipyards, equipment manufacturers, financial institutions, attorneys, accountants). Member companies access conferences, committee meetings, regulatory updates, advocacy services, and networking events.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels2 records

Marketing channels6 records

Core offering

OMSA is a U.S. trade association representing the offshore marine transportation service industry. The organization delivers regulatory advocacy before Congress, the Coast Guard, EPA, and other federal agencies; provides Coast Guard-approved compliance resources (Vessel Security Program, Alternative Security Plan, VGP Manual); operates the Jones Act Enforcer program to document Jones Act violations; and convenes member conferences, committee meetings, and networking events for vessel operators and maritime service providers.

Product overview

The Offshore Marine Service Association (OMSA) is a trade association representing offshore marine transportation service companies in the United States. Rather than offering a unified software platform, OMSA provides a portfolio of advocacy programs, compliance resources, industry events, and media content. Core programs include the Jones Act Enforcer (a vessel monitoring Jones Act violations), the OMSA Alternative Security Plan (incorporating cybersecurity into vessel security), the Vessel Security Program (in partnership with The Response Group), and advocacy for the American Offshore Worker Fairness Act. Additional offerings include the Vessel General Permit Manual for EPA compliance, newsletters and regulatory alerts, the Maritime in America Podcast, conferences and committee meetings, and Jones Act Enforcer branded merchandise.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• Jones Act Enforcer: First-of-its-kind vessel program that patrols U.S. waters to gather video and photographic evidence of Jones Act violations
• Maritime in America Podcast

Products and services

• Regular Membership

Quantifiable outcome

• Achieved PAM policy reform reducing regulatory burdens for U.S. offshore operators
• +2 more outcomes

Named customers14 records

Segments2 records

Ideal customer profiles2 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

Three partnerships are on record, tiered minor and core.

• PhelpsminorGTM or Marketing Partner · 11 August 2026OMSA partnered with Phelps for a lunch and learn event on nuclear verdicts and general damage verdict trends. Event held in New Orleans with location details emailed to registered participants.
• The Response GroupcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerOMSA partnered with The Response Group to develop Coast Guard-approved and internationally compliant vessel security plans. The partnership provides members with security plan templates, annual drills, audit assistance, and crew security training to meet regulatory requirements.
• Rear Admiral Richard V. Timme (Ret.)coreOthersFormer Coast Guard Rear Admiral joined OMSA as Senior Advisor. Admiral Timme brings over three decades of expertise in maritime safety and security, regulatory policy, and operational leadership, including roles as Commander of the Eighth Coast Guard District and Assistant Commandant for Prevention Policy.

Scale indicators5 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Broad incumbents

• International Chamber of Shipping: Principal international trade association for merchant shipping operators, representing roughly 80% of the world merchant tonnage. Comparable to OMSA in advocating for shipping industry positions at IMO and other international regulatory bodies, but at a global scale rather than U.S.-flag focus.
• Chamber of Shipping of America: Broad-based U.S. maritime industry association representing ocean carriers, operators, and maritime service companies. Comparable to OMSA as a broader umbrella advocacy organization with overlapping regulatory engagement on Jones Act, Coast Guard, and IMO issues, though with a larger and more diverse membership base.

Direct peers

• National Ocean Industries Association: Trade association representing the full offshore energy industry — including offshore oil, gas, and renewables. Comparable to OMSA in advocating before Congress and federal agencies on behalf of offshore operators, and overlapping membership with OMSA in the offshore service vessel and wind spaces.
• American Maritime Partnership: Coalition of U.S.-flag maritime organizations, shipbuilders, and vessel operators advocating for the Jones Act and U.S. maritime industrial base. Directly comparable to OMSA's Jones Act enforcement mission and frequently coordinates with OMSA on legislative campaigns such as the American Offshore Worker Fairness Act.
• American Waterways Operators: National trade association representing the U.S. tugboat, towboat, and barge industry. Highly comparable to OMSA as a membership-based advocacy organization serving commercial vessel operators on regulatory, Jones Act-adjacent, and safety issues before Congress and federal agencies.
• International Association of Drilling Contractors: Global trade association for the drilling industry, including offshore drilling contractors. Comparable to OMSA in representing offshore energy service providers and engaging with regulators on safety, environmental, and operational rules affecting offshore vessels and crews.
• Shipbuilders Council of America: National trade association representing U.S. shipyards and shipbuilding suppliers. Comparable to OMSA as an adjacent Jones Act stakeholder with overlapping members (e.g., Bollinger Shipyards and Master Boat Builders sit on both councils' member rosters) and shared advocacy on Jones Act enforcement and maritime industrial base policy.

Others

• American Bureau of Shipping: Maritime classification society establishing standards for vessel design, construction, and survey. Adjacent to OMSA rather than competitive: ABS classes many of the offshore service vessels operated by OMSA's Regular Members and intersects with OMSA on safety and regulatory standards.
• Marine Engineers' Beneficial Association: National maritime officers' union representing licensed engine and deck officers on U.S.-flag vessels. Adjacent to OMSA rather than directly competitive: MEBA represents the licensed mariner workforce employed by many OMSA Regular Member operators and frequently aligns on Jones Act and mariner workforce policy.

Regional players

• Pacific Maritime Association: West Coast-based management association representing terminal operators and stevedoring companies in U.S. West Coast ports. Comparable to OMSA as a U.S. maritime labor and operations management body, though focused on longshore labor relations and port operations rather than offshore service vessels.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks1 record

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/offshoreamerica
• YouTubeyoutube.com/@offshoremarine
• Facebookfacebook.com/offshoreamerica
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/offshore-marine-service-association
• Instagraminstagram.com/offshoreamerica

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles8 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 Offshore Marine Service Association