Sullivan Maritime Limited

Name

Sullivan Maritime Limited

Legal name

Sullivan Maritime Limited

Website

https://sullivanmaritime.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

1996

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Maritime Agency and Port Services

NAICS

Support Activities for Water Transportation (4883), Other Support Activities for Water Transportation (48839), Port and Harbor Operations (488310)

SIC

Arrangement Of Transportation Of Freight & Cargo (4731), Water Transportation (4400)

akta.pro primary industry

Marine Service Provider Coordination (Diving, Inspection, Class/Survey Support) (TLAHAJAI)

akta.pro secondary industries

Spare Parts, Ship Chandlery & Logistics to Vessel (TLAHAJAF), Crew, Marine & Offshore Travel Management (THAKACAF)

Keywords

• Maritime agency services
• Cargo forwarding services
• Port agency services
• Car transport services
• Vessel agency services

Headquarters

HQ city

Valletta

HQ country

Malta

HQ region

Europe

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. Shipping Agency Services: Agency fees and commissions earned as port/liner agent representing shipping principals (Grimaldi Group, Höegh Autoliners, ACL, etc.). Services include vessel agency, port services, customs clearance, and documentation handling.
2. Freight Forwarding Services: Fees for arranging cargo movement including collection, storage, customs formalities, haulage, and devanning services. Handles various cargo types: RoRo (vehicles, trucks, trailers), unitized cargo (containers), conventional cargo, and hazardous materials.
3. Documentation Services: Preparation of shipping documentation including shipping orders, delivery orders, notices of arrival, bills of lading, and manifests. Also offers dedicated documentation system for cargo moving under documentary credit/Letters of Credit.
4. Car Transport Services: Collection, storage, and transport of vehicles (previously owned vehicles, new buses, cars). Weekly UK to Malta car transporter service through Access Car Transport partnership.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion3 records

Distribution channels5 records

Marketing channels7 records

Core offering

Sullivan Maritime Limited is a Malta-based shipping agency and freight forwarder providing cargo handling services (RoRo, containerised, and conventional cargo), 24/7 port and marine agency representation, vehicle transport between the UK and Malta, and the proprietary FastBook web-based booking platform. The company acts as local agent for multiple shipping principals including Grimaldi Group, Höegh Autoliners, Atlantic Container Line (ACL), Minoan Lines, Finnlines, and Mediterranean Car-Carriers Line (MCCL), handling vessel agency, customs clearance, documentation, and cargo logistics.

Product overview

Sullivan Maritime Limited is a maritime services company offering a unified portfolio of shipping agency, cargo handling, and logistics services. The core offerings include Cargo Services (handling Roro, Unitised, and Conventional cargo), Agency Services (port agency, offshore harbour services, transhipment operations), Car Transport via Access Car Transport (UK to Malta vehicle shipping), and FastBook (proprietary web-based booking system for online cargo voyage reservations). Supporting services include Documentation Services, IMO/Dangerous Goods handling, and customs representation. The company acts as local agent for multiple shipping principals including Grimaldi Group, Höegh Autoliners, and Malta Motorways of the Sea.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• FastBook: Web-based booking application that allows clients to book trailers and vehicles onto Sullivan Maritime managed cargo vessels sailing into and out of Malta.
• Access Car Transport

Products and services

• Cargo Services

Quantifiable outcome

• Over 40,000 previously owned vehicles transported from Japan to Malta since 2010
• +4 more outcomes

Named customers7 records

Segments5 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature1 record

Partnerships

26 partnerships are on record, tiered flagship, core and minor.

• Grimaldi GroupflagshipChannel Partner/ Reseller/ Distributor · 1 January 1996Primary shipping principal represented in Malta since early 1990s (confirmed as agent since 1996 founding). Grimaldi Group is a Naples-based logistics and shipping company founded in 1947. Sullivan Maritime serves as their exclusive Malta agents for short sea services. Relationship spans over 50 years between Sullivan and Grimaldi families. Grimaldi Group operates ro-ro ships connecting Italy, Spain, Greece, Tunisia, Malta, Libya, Morocco, and Montenegro.
• Höegh AutolinerscoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ Distributor · 1 January 1996Exclusive agents for Norwegian ship owners Höegh Autoliners for over 20 years. Handles Pure Car and Truck Carrier (PCTC) operations including world's largest PCTC vessels. First major principal relationship alongside Grimaldi Group.
• Atlantic Container Line (ACL)coreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ Distributor · 1 January 1996Represents ACL, a Grimaldi Group company, in Malta. ACL operates the biggest con/ro vessels in the world between North European and North American ports. Nine ACL vessels are currently flagged under Maltese flag.
• Minoan LinescoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorRepresents Minoan Lines, a Grimaldi Group company operating passenger and ro-ro services in the Mediterranean.
• FinnlinescoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorRepresents Finnlines, a Grimaldi Group company operating Baltic Sea services. Three GG5G-class hybrid ro-ro vessels purchased for Finnlines deployment in the Baltic.
• Malta Motorways of the Sea (MMOS)flagshipChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorSullivan Maritime carries out all agency work for MMOS operations in Malta. MMOS was set up at end of 2005 by Grimaldi Group to support Malta's industrial and commercial development following Sea Malta liquidation. MMOS operates regular Malta-Italy services under Public Service Obligation contract with Maltese Government.
• Mediterranean Car-Carrier Lines (MCCL)coreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorRepresents MCCL since 2009. MCCL fleet is exclusively specialized in sea transportation of vehicles and rolling materials using pure car-carrier and Ro-Ro vessels.
• Sloman NeptuncoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorLongstanding principal relationship since early 1990s. German shipping company specializing in liner services.
• SAL Heavy LiftminorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorRepresents SAL Heavy Lift, a shipping line specializing in heavy lift and project cargo transport.
• Nissan CarrierminorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorRepresents Nissan Carrier, part of Nissan Motor Corporation, for vehicle shipping operations.
• UECCminorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorRepresents UECC (United European Car Carriers), a specialized vehicle transport shipping line.
• Euro Marine CarrierminorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorRepresents Euro Marine Carrier for maritime transport services.
• AmasusminorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorRepresents Amasus, a maritime services company.
• Malta Short Sea Promotion Centre (MSPC)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerMMOS is a Founder Member of Malta Shortsea Promotion Centre, which is part of the European Short Sea Network (ESN). Promotes short sea shipping in Malta.
• Malta Maritime Forum (MMF)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerMMOS is a Corporate Member of Malta Maritime Forum which represents the maritime private industry in Malta.
• BIMCOcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnership with BIMCO (Baltic and International Maritime Council), a leading international shipping association.
• FONASBAcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnership with FONASBA (Forwarding, Shipping & Logistics), a global maritime association. Francesca Bugeja holds certificate in 'FONASBA: ACB Liner Shipping Transportation'.
• Valletta Gateway Terminal (VGT)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerTerminal operator partner providing access to Valletta Port terminal for vessel operations and cargo handling.
• Malta Freeport TerminalscoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerTerminal operator partner for transhipment operations. Handled largest car transhipment operation (2,400+ vehicles) at Malta Freeport.
• Mediterranean Maritime Hub (MMH)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerTerminal operator partner in Malta for maritime operations and cargo handling services.
• Palumbo GroupminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerMaritime services partner providing ship repair, refit, and marine services in Malta.
• Transport MaltacoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerGovernment regulatory body for maritime transport in Malta. Sullivan Maritime works with Transport Malta for vessel registration, licensing, and regulatory compliance.
• Malta Chamber of Commerce, Enterprise and IndustrycoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerGrimaldi Group is a Bronze Collaborator of the Malta Chamber. Partnership supports local business community and trade development.
• Association of Ship AgentscoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerSullivan Maritime CEO Ernest Sullivan served as Chairman of the Association of Ship Agents for 12 terms. Industry association representing shipping agents in Malta.
• MCAST - Maritime InstitutecoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerMalta Motorways of the Sea has permanent cooperation agreement with MCAST Maritime Institute for training of sea cadets. Hundreds of Maltese cadets trained, many subsequently hired by Grimaldi Group companies.
• Access Car TransportcoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorSullivan Maritime associated company providing weekly UK to Malta car transporter service. Full collection and storage service for vehicle shipping. Website hosted at accesscartransport.com.

Scale indicators11 records

Recent moves7 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Broad incumbents

• DHL Global Forwarding: World's largest air and ocean freight forwarder with established presence in Malta. Comparable as a broad incumbent offering ocean freight, customs and documentation services that overlap with Sullivan Maritime's forwarding arm, though much broader portfolio and scale.
• DSV A/S: Global transport and logistics company with strong ocean freight forwarding presence across Europe. Comparable as a broad incumbent competitor in maritime freight forwarding, particularly for project cargo and oversized shipments where Sullivan Maritime has won work (e.g., 510,000 metric tons of steel structures).
• Kuehne+Nagel International AG: Global freight forwarder offering sea, air and overland freight forwarding. Broad incumbent competitor in the Maltese market for general cargo forwarding, with much larger scale and digital platform (KN FreightNet) versus Sullivan Maritime's agency-centric model.

Direct peers

• International Forwarding & Shipping (IFS) Malta: Malta-based freight forwarder and shipping agent offering similar cargo, documentation, and agency services. Direct competitor for the same pool of Maltese importers/exporters and shipping principals.
• Carmelo Caruana Co. Ltd. Long-established Maltese shipping agency providing port agency, freight forwarding, and documentation services. Direct competitor in the Valletta and Malta Freeport port agency market, competing for the same shipping principals and local cargo customers as Sullivan Maritime.
• James Finlay Malta (now Ellul & Co): Historic Maltese shipping agency offering port agency and freight forwarding. Comparable as a competing local agency with multi-decade principal relationships, though smaller scale and more limited public profile than Sullivan Maritime.

Others

• Grimaldi Group: Sullivan's flagship shipping principal and exclusive Malta agent partner for over 30 years. Comparable as a strategic ecosystem participant — Sullivan Maritime derives substantial commission flow from Grimaldi vessels and acts as a channel for Grimaldi's Motorways of the Sea service.
• Höegh Autoliners: Norwegian operator of the world's largest PCTC vessels and a Sullivan Maritime principal for 20+ years. Comparable as a strategic ecosystem participant — Sullivan Maritime handles Höegh's vehicle carrier calls at Malta, including the record 2,400+ car transhipment in 2012.
• Euro Marine Carrier (EMC): Specialized ro-ro operator in the Mediterranean and a Sullivan Maritime principal. Comparable as an adjacent ecosystem participant — Sullivan Maritime acts as its Malta port agent, providing perspective on shipping principals whose vessel calls the company services.

Regional players

• Medserv plc: Malta-based integrated logistics and support services company serving the oil & gas and maritime sectors with port agency, offshore logistics, and supply base operations. Comparable as a Maltese-headquartered maritime services firm, though more specialized in oilfield logistics.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat6 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Facebookfacebook.com/SullivanMaritimeLtd
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/sullivanmaritimeltd

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles13 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 Sullivan Maritime Limited