What Watts Marine does

Watts Marine (privately held; headquarters in Kingston, Washington; rebranded from Cochran Marine in November 2021) designs, engineers, manufactures, installs, and commissions shore power systems that allow cruise ships and other maritime vessels to plug into the local electrical grid while in port, shutting down diesel auxiliary engines. Its core offering is a patented transformer-based Shore Power System delivering 3.5MW to 14MW with proprietary dual-voltage power distribution, precision cable management, automated single-selection connection, and electronic monitoring and control. The Mobile Cable Positioning Device (CPD) is a second core product — a battery-electric, repositionable cable delivery unit built on a converted Genie manlift platform — that lets a single berth serve multiple vessel configurations.

The business model combines high-value turnkey system sales (priced at approximately $6.5M per package in 2024, up from $1.3M in 2005) with recurring managed services including 24/7 remote monitoring from a dedicated Seattle control center, on-site connection support, troubleshooting, recommissioning, decommissioning, and emissions reporting. Customers are North American port authorities (Port of Seattle, Vancouver, San Francisco, San Diego, Long Beach, Halifax, Brooklyn) and major cruise lines (Princess, Holland America, Norwegian, Disney, Carnival Corporation brands), with emerging business in electric tugs and ferries. Sales are direct enterprise/field engagements responding to RFIs and RFPs; the company has no channel partners or resellers and has installed 11 systems at 7 ports since 2005.

Name

Watts Marine

Legal name

Watts Marine LLC

Website

https://watts-marine.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

2005

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

Watts Marine designs, installs, and operates patented transformer-based shore power systems and the Mobile Cable Positioning Device for cruise ships, electric tugs, and ferries, serving North American port authorities and cruise lines with turnkey systems and 24/7 managed services.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Shore Power Systems / Maritime Electrification Equipment

NAICS

Ship Building and Repairing (336611), Ship and Boat Building (3366), Ship and Boat Building (33661)

SIC

Ship & Boat Building & Repairing (3730), Switchgear & Switchboard Apparatus (3613), Power, Distribution & Specialty Transformers (3612)

akta.pro primary industry

Shore Power & Electrification Systems (Cold Ironing, Charging Interfaces) (IMAJAJAM)

akta.pro secondary industries

Integrated Marine Electrical Systems & Switchboards (IMAJAJAA), Marine Power Generation & Energy Storage (Generators, Batteries, UPS) (IMAJAJAB), Electrical Engineering & Power Distribution (Generation, Switchboards, Cabling, Lighting) (IMAJAGAF)

Keywords

• Shore power systems
• Maritime electrification equipment
• Cruise terminal infrastructure
• Mobile cable positioning device
• Port electrification services

Headquarters

HQ city

Kingston

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices2 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Hardware or Manufacturing

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. Shore Power System Sales and Installation: Turnkey shore power systems sold to port authorities. Pricing has increased from $1.3M in 2005 to $6.5M currently (2024), reflecting pandemic-era inflation and enhanced capabilities. Package includes proprietary patented system, utility metering equipment, primary and secondary switchgear, transformer, power factor correction, cable management, IEC/IEEE 800005-1 compliance, and usage reports.
2. Ongoing Connection Support and Operations: Continuous operational management including daily operations, expert troubleshooting, recommissioning and testing, decommissioning services, and detailed connection reporting (daily and annually). Company maintains dedicated Seattle control center for real-time monitoring.
3. Mobile Cable Positioning Device Sales: Sale of mobile CPD units to ports for flexible shore power delivery. Systems built starting with Genie manlifts, converted from diesel to battery power, with Finnish battery packs and baskets relocated in Norway.
4. Consulting and Advisory Services: Discovery phase support including detailed feasibility studies, precise emissions reduction forecasts, thorough funding analyses, regulatory advising, specifying and permitting services leveraging proprietary designs and established utility partnerships.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels2 records

Marketing channels4 records

Core offering

Watts Marine designs, engineers, manufactures, and installs patented transformer-based shore power systems and the Mobile Cable Positioning Device (CPD) for cruise ships, electric tugs, and ferries at port berths. The company delivers end-to-end solutions—from feasibility studies and regulatory advising through precision installation, 24/7 real-time monitoring, and ongoing operations—enabling port authorities and cruise lines to reduce at-berth emissions by up to 98% by connecting docked vessels to the regional electricity grid.

Product overview

Watts Marine offers a unified shore power platform centered on two core product lines — the patented Shore Power System and the Mobile Cable Positioning Device (CPD) — supported by a full suite of end-to-end services. The Shore Power System provides dual-voltage power distribution (3.5MW to 14MW capacity) with proprietary automation, cable management, and electronic monitoring and control. The Mobile CPD is a repositionable, battery-electric cable delivery unit that serves multiple vessel configurations along a berth. These two products are delivered alongside services spanning discovery and feasibility, manufacturing and testing, connection execution, ongoing on-site support, permitting, installation, and 24/7 remote operation and monitoring — all managed by a single team for integrated reliability.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Watts Marine Shore Power System Patented end-to-end transformer-based shore power solution for cruise vessels, featuring advanced dual-voltage power distribution architecture (3.5MW to 14MW), precision-engineered cable management systems, and proprietary electronic monitoring and control technology. Includes utility metering equipment, primary and secondary switchgear, transformer, power factor correction, IEC/IEEE 800005-1 compliance, and usage reports. Sold to port authorities as a turnkey package.
• Mobile Cable Positioning Device (CPD) Patented mobile shore power cable delivery system that can be rapidly repositioned along a berth to serve multiple vessels of varying configurations. Built on a Genie manlift platform converted from diesel to battery-electric power (Finnish battery packs, modifications performed in Norway), with 9.47m working height, 9.47m horizontal reach, 360-degree continuous turntable rotation, positive traction drive, flashing beacon and travel alarm, and onboard full diagnostics.
• Discovery & Feasibility Services Early-stage consulting for ports including detailed feasibility studies, emissions reduction forecasts, and funding analyses to guide shore power adoption decisions.
• Shore Power Manufacture & Testing Factory-built, rigorously-tested power systems on reinforced sub-frames arriving jobsite-ready for faster deployment with quality assurance.
• Shore Power Delivery & Installation Modular pre-assembled system delivery coordinated with site preparation, enabling complete installation and commissioning in days rather than weeks.
• Shore Power Connection Services Expert teams execute seamless power transfer upon vessel docking, enabling rapid transition to zero-emission shore power operation.
• Ongoing On-Site Connection Support Daily operations, expert troubleshooting, recommissioning and testing, decommissioning, and detailed connection reporting (daily and annually) for system performance and environmental impact.
• Shore Power Operation & Monitoring Real-time monitoring by Watts Marine specialists at a dedicated Seattle control center; configures power parameters, provides system optimization, and captures metrics on connection duration, energy consumption, and emissions reductions.
• Specifying & Permitting Services Streamlined shore power implementation leveraging proprietary designs and established utility partnerships to reduce engineering costs while ensuring optimal performance.

Quantifiable outcome

• Up to 98% pollutant emission reduction when connected to shore power using regional electricity grid
• +5 more outcomes

Named customers14 records

Segments3 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed Yes

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature5 records

Partnerships

Eleven partnerships are on record, tiered core, flagship and major.

• L&T Digital Energy SolutionscoreTechnology or Integration · 25 February 2026Global engineering leader providing technical validation of Watts Marine's transformer-based shore power approach. L&T's whitepaper 'On-Shore Power Systems for Cruise Ships' confirms transformer-based systems deliver superior reliability, lower total cost of ownership, and better alignment with cruise vessel electrical systems at 60-hertz ports.
• Princess CruisesflagshipStrategic or Co-development PartnerLaunched world's first cruise ship shore power system in Juneau, Alaska in 2001. Approached Mike Watts in 2004 to adapt shore power for Seattle's Terminal 30, launching the company's entry into commercial shore power. First project completed in under six months in 2005.
• Genie (Terex Aerial Work Platforms)coreTechnology or IntegrationWatts Marine starts mobile CPD construction with Genie manlifts, which are manufactured in Washington state near Watts Marine's headquarters. Genie provides the base platform which is then modified with relocated operator consoles, cable installations, and diesel-to-battery conversion.
• Norwegian Cruise Line HoldingscoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerNorwegian Cruise Line committed to shore power adoption. Norwegian Bliss successfully connected at Pier 66 in Seattle. Company projects strong growth in shore power connections as cruise lines prioritize environmental programs.
• Port EvergladesmajorStrategic or Co-development PartnerWatts Marine and a partner participated in Port Everglades' request for information to supply shore power at all eight cruise terminals. RFI had 13 respondents and information will go into an RFP to be issued next year. Port has applied for $127M in grants from EPA's Clean Ports Program.
• Crowley Maritime CorporationcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnered with Crowley Maritime for the eWolf project - the first fully electric tugboat in the United States. Watts Marine provided design and engineering support along with cable positioning device for the Spring 2024 project.
• Cruise Lines International Association (CLIA)majorStrategic or Co-development PartnerCLIA announced commitment that by 2035, all cruise ships will be equipped to use shore power. CLIA counts 147 member line ships currently shore power-capable and forecasts 239 by 2028. CLIA Gold Tier partner designation.
• Port of SeattleflagshipStrategic or Co-development PartnerLong-standing partnership spanning multiple installations including Terminal 30, Terminal 91, and Pier 66. $44M investment enabling all three cruise berths to use shore power simultaneously. Seattle is one of the only ports globally able to power three cruise ships simultaneously with low-carbon electricity.
• Seattle City LightcoreTechnology or IntegrationUtility partner providing power for shore power infrastructure at Seattle. About 94% of power generated by City Light comes from clean and carbon-free resources. Substation at Terminal 46 provides power via more than mile-long submersible cable to Pier 66.
• Port of VancouvercoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCompleted design and installation of two Shore Power Systems for the Vancouver Port Authority in 2009, each in different areas to service incoming cruise ships. Coordinated with utility providers to ensure sufficient power delivery and established rate/fee structures.
• Port of San DiegocoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerDelivered first Mobile Cable Positioning Device to Port of San Diego's B Street Cruise Terminal in 2023, enabling flexible shore power connectivity for vessels of various sizes. Also provided shore power for eWolf electric tug project.

Scale indicators9 records

Recent moves5 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Broad incumbents

• ABB: Global electrification and automation giant offering shore power systems as part of its broader port and marine portfolio. ABB competes in shore power with frequency-converter architectures and serves many of the same port authority customers as Watts Marine, but as one product line among many.
• Siemens Energy: Provides SIHARBOR shore power solutions for cruise and container ports as part of its broader electrification portfolio. Competes with Watts Marine on large port electrification projects globally and brings significant engineering and utility-coordination scale.
• Eaton: Global power management company supplying switchgear, transformers, and power distribution components used in shore power systems. Eaton does not typically deliver turnkey shore power systems but competes with Watts Marine on the underlying switchgear/transformer content of every installation.
• Wärtsilä: Finnish marine technology company offering ship-to-shore power solutions and broader harbor craft electrification services. Comparable to Watts Marine for the cruise and harbor craft electrification use cases, but ships it as part of a much larger marine and energy portfolio.
• Schneider Electric: Global energy management and automation company with a shore power offering targeting cruise and commercial ports. Overlaps with Watts Marine's end-to-end delivery model and switchgear/transformer content, but is part of a much broader industrial and infrastructure portfolio.

Others

• Cochran Electric: Pacific Northwest electrical contractor from which Mike and Brenda Watts acquired the Marine Division in November 2021 to form Watts Marine. Historic predecessor and ongoing ecosystem participant; competes for general electrical contracting work at the same ports but no longer in the marine shore power niche.
• Trelleborg Marine and Infrastructure: Provides port infrastructure including fenders, mooring equipment, and shore power interface solutions. Trelleborg is an ecosystem participant in port electrification rather than a direct shore power system competitor, but is often on the same port authority RFPs.

Direct peers

• Stemmann-Technik (Wabtec): Germany-based shore power specialist (now part of Wabtec) that designs and delivers cable management systems and shore power connections for ports. Highly comparable to Watts Marine in both the core shore power system and the cable management / positioning subsystems.
• Cavotec: Swiss-listed specialist that designs and manufactures shore power connection systems (shore connection boxes, AMPGate, PowerReach) for cruise and container ports globally. Cavotec is the most directly comparable pure-play in maritime shore power, competing head-to-head with Watts Marine for port authority contracts.
• PowerCon: Danish engineering firm specializing in shore power solutions for cruise, ferry, and container terminals worldwide. Competes directly with Watts Marine on turnkey shore power system deliveries to ports and offers comparable end-to-end engineering, installation, and ongoing operations services.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/watts-marine-llc

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles9 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 Watts Marine