NAICS 483111 Quarterly Industry Report
Deep Sea Freight Transportation
Comprehensive industry research for valuation professionals, business owners, buyers, and lenders
NAICS Code: 483111Sector: 48Updated: Q1 2026
About This Report
This NAICS 483111 industry report integrates data from the U.S. Census Bureau[5] transportation surveys, Bureau of Labor Statistics[6] employment statistics for water transportation workers, and Small Business Administration[7] size standard tables. Fair Market Value researchers supplement these federal sources with U.S. Maritime Administration vessel data and international trade volume statistics to produce quarterly updates. Each NAICS 483111 report revision captures cargo volumes, rate trends, and competitive dynamics across the deep sea freight transportation sector.
Industry Snapshot
Key metrics for the deep sea freight transportation industry.
Industry Definition & Overview
Deep Sea Freight Transportation (NAICS 483111) encompasses establishments primarily engaged in providing deep sea transportation of cargo to or from foreign ports. Container shipping lines, bulk cargo carriers, tanker operators, and roll-on/roll-off vehicle carriers operating on international ocean routes all fall within this classification. Major global carriers including Maersk, MSC, CMA CGM, and Hapag-Lloyd dominate the container segment, while specialized bulk and tanker fleets serve commodity-specific trade lanes.
The U.S. Census Bureau[5] separates deep sea freight transportation from coastal and Great Lakes freight operations (483113) that move cargo within domestic waters, and from deep sea passenger services (483112) that carry travelers on international voyages. Containerized cargo represents the largest segment by revenue, moving manufactured goods, consumer products, agricultural exports, and industrial components between continents. Bulk carriers transport commodities including grain, coal, iron ore, and petroleum products in dedicated vessel configurations.
International trade volumes drive demand directly, with shipping rates fluctuating based on vessel supply, cargo demand, fuel costs, and port congestion levels. Vessel charter markets connect cargo owners with available tonnage through spot and time charter arrangements. Port infrastructure capacity at both origin and destination determines vessel call frequency and transit time reliability. Environmental regulations from the International Maritime Organization governing fuel sulfur content, ballast water treatment, and greenhouse gas emissions are reshaping fleet investment decisions as operators evaluate alternatives to conventional heavy fuel oil propulsion across their deep sea fleets.
What's Included in This Industry
- Operating container ships carrying manufactured goods on international ocean trade routes
- Providing bulk carrier services transporting grain, coal, and ore on deep sea routes
- Running tanker operations carrying crude oil and petroleum products across oceans
- Operating roll-on/roll-off vessels transporting vehicles and heavy equipment internationally
- Providing refrigerated container shipping for perishable food and pharmaceutical cargo
- Operating general cargo vessels carrying breakbulk and project freight on ocean routes
- Managing vessel charter arrangements for spot and time charter freight commitments
- Providing intermodal ocean-to-rail and ocean-to-truck container service coordination
- Operating feeder vessel services connecting smaller ports to main deep sea trade lanes
- Transporting hazardous materials and chemicals in specialized deep sea tank vessels
NAICS Classification Hierarchy
| Level | Description | Code |
|---|---|---|
| Subsector | Water Transportation | 483 |
| Industry Group | Deep Sea, Coastal, and Great Lakes Water Transportation | 4831 |
| NAICS Industry | Deep Sea, Coastal, and Great Lakes Water Transportation | 48311 |
| National Industry | Deep Sea Freight Transportation | 483111 |
Related NAICS Codes
| Code | Description | Relationship |
|---|---|---|
| 483112 | Deep Sea Passenger Transportation | Deep sea passenger carriers operate international ocean voyages on vessels that may also carry limited freight alongside passenger accommodations |
| 483113 | Coastal and Great Lakes Freight Transportation | Coastal and Great Lakes freight carriers transport cargo within domestic waters, serving trade lanes shorter than the international routes of deep sea operators |
| 488310 | Port and Harbor Operations | Port and harbor operations provide docking, loading, and cargo handling services that deep sea freight vessels depend on at each port of call |
| 488320 | Marine Cargo Handling | Marine cargo handling companies load and unload containers, bulk cargo, and breakbulk freight from deep sea vessels at port terminals |
| 336611 | Ship Building and Repairing | Ship building and repairing facilities construct new vessels and perform dry dock maintenance that keeps deep sea freight fleets operational |
| 488330 | Navigational Services to Shipping | Navigational services provide piloting, towing, and vessel assist operations that guide deep sea ships safely into and out of port channels |
Geographic Concentration
Top states by share of national establishments.
| # | State | % Est. | Total Est. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Florida | 25.6% | 79 |
| 2 | California | 14.2% | 44 |
| 3 | Texas | 12.6% | 39 |
| 4 | New York | 7.8% | 24 |
| 5 | New Jersey | 7.4% | 23 |
| 6 | Virginia | 4.5% | 14 |
| 7 | Louisiana | 4.2% | 13 |
| 8 | Massachusetts | 3.6% | 11 |
| 9 | Georgia | 3.2% | 10 |
| 10 | Washington | 2.9% | 9 |
% Of Establishments
0%
26%
Source: County Business Patterns, U.S. Census Bureau[3]
SBA Lending Summary
16
Total SBA Loans
$1.3M
Total Loan Volume
$83K
Average Loan Size
10 yrs
Average Loan Term
11.13%
Average Interest Rate
56
Jobs Supported
Source: SBA 7(a) Program Data, U.S. Small Business Administration — FY 2025[4]
Key Insight: The Small Business Administration[8] classifies businesses under NAICS 483111 as small if they employ no more than 1,050 employees. Smaller shipping companies and niche vessel operators below this threshold qualify for SBA programs. SBA 7(a) loans[9] can finance vessel acquisitions, equipment upgrades, and working capital for qualifying deep sea freight operations. The SBA 504 program[10] supports major vessel purchases and port facility investments for owner-operated maritime freight companies.
Top SBA Lenders
| # | Lender | Loans | Volume | Avg Loan |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Northeast Bank | 8 | $1.2M | $150K |
| 2 | Wells Fargo Bank National Association | 8 | $120K | $15K |
Frequently Asked Questions
Common questions about this industry.
What businesses are classified under NAICS 483111?
NAICS 483111 covers container shipping lines, bulk cargo carriers, tanker operators, and any company providing deep sea freight transportation to or from foreign ports. The U.S. Census Bureau[5] provides the official classification.
How is NAICS 483111 different from coastal shipping?
Deep sea freight (483111) moves cargo to and from foreign ports on international ocean routes, while coastal freight (483113) transports cargo within domestic waters. The Census Bureau[11] separates water transportation by whether routes cross international boundaries.
What is the SBA size standard for deep sea freight carriers?
The SBA sets the size standard at 1,050 employees for NAICS 483111. Smaller shipping companies and niche operators may qualify. Current standards appear in the SBA table of size standards[7].
Which NAICS codes relate most closely to 483111?
Key related codes include 483112 for deep sea passenger carriers, 483113 for coastal freight, 488310 for port operations, 488320 for marine cargo handling, and 336611 for shipbuilding. Each connects to the deep sea freight supply chain.
What industries interact with deep sea freight carriers?
Port operators (488310) provide berthing, cargo handlers (488320) load and unload vessels, shipyards (336611) build and maintain fleets, and harbor pilots (488330) navigate ships through port channels. Freight forwarders and customs brokers also support deep sea cargo movements.
What activities does NAICS 483111 include?
Activities cover container shipping, bulk cargo hauling, tanker operations, vehicle carrier service, refrigerated shipping, and breakbulk freight movement on international ocean routes. The Census definition[5] covers the full scope.
Can small shipping companies get SBA loans?
Deep sea freight operators with fewer than 1,050 employees qualify for SBA 7(a) loans covering vessel costs and working capital. The 504 program funds major vessel and facility investments. Details are at the SBA funding programs page[12].
Where are deep sea freight operations concentrated?
Deep sea freight concentrates at major container ports including Los Angeles-Long Beach, New York-New Jersey, Savannah, Houston, and Seattle-Tacoma. Gulf Coast ports handle bulk commodity and petroleum cargo, while East Coast ports serve transatlantic trade and the expanded Panama Canal routes.
Sources & References
Government datasets and editorial sources used in this report.
- [1]U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Quarterly Census of Employment and Wages bls.gov
- [2]U.S. Census Bureau, Economic Census census.gov
- [3]U.S. Census Bureau, County Business Patterns census.gov
- [4]U.S. Small Business Administration, SBA 7(a) Loan Program Data data.sba.gov
- [5]U.S. Census Bureau census.gov
- [6]Bureau of Labor Statistics bls.gov
- [7]Small Business Administration sba.gov
- [8]Small Business Administration sba.gov
- [9]SBA 7(a) loans sba.gov
- [10]SBA 504 program sba.gov
- [11]Census Bureau census.gov
- [12]SBA funding programs page sba.gov
Disclaimer
This publication has been prepared by Fair Market Value (“Fair Market Value”) for informational purposes only. It is provided on an “as-is” and “as available” basis. Fair Market Value makes no representations or warranties, express or implied, regarding the merchantability, fitness for a particular purpose, completeness, or accuracy of the data or information contained herein. This publication is not intended to be, and should not be construed as, professional financial, legal, tax, or investment advice. Users should consult with qualified professionals before making any financial or business decisions based on the information presented.
To the extent permitted by law, Fair Market Value disclaims all liability for loss or damage, direct and indirect, suffered or incurred by any person resulting from the use of, or reliance upon, the data in this publication.
Copyright © 2026 Fair Market Value. All rights reserved. All data, information, articles, graphs, and content contained in this publication are copyrighted works and Fair Market Value hereby reserves all rights. No part of this publication may be copied, reproduced, republished, uploaded to a third party, or distributed without the prior written permission of Fair Market Value.