NAICS 483113 Quarterly Industry Report
Coastal and Great Lakes FreightWater Transportation
Comprehensive industry research for valuation professionals, business owners, buyers, and lenders
NAICS Code: 483113Sector: 48Updated: Q1 2026
About This Report
This NAICS 483113 industry report draws on 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 analysts supplement these federal sources with U.S. Army Corps of Engineers waterborne commerce data and U.S. Maritime Administration fleet reports to deliver quarterly updates. Each NAICS 483113 report revision captures cargo tonnage, employment trends, and competitive dynamics across the coastal and Great Lakes freight sector.
Industry Snapshot
Key metrics for the coastal and great lakes freightwater transportation industry.
Industry Definition & Overview
Coastal and Great Lakes Freight Transportation (NAICS 483113) encompasses establishments primarily engaged in providing water transportation of cargo in coastal waters, on the Great Lakes System, or between ports of the United States, Puerto Rico, and U.S. island territories. Barge operators, tugboat companies, coastal tanker lines, and Great Lakes bulk carriers all fall within this classification. The Jones Act requires vessels operating between U.S. domestic ports to be American-built, American-owned, and American-crewed, creating a protected domestic market.
The U.S. Census Bureau[5] separates coastal and Great Lakes freight from deep sea international freight (483111) that moves cargo to foreign ports, and from inland waterway operations (483211) that use rivers and intracoastal channels. Great Lakes carriers move iron ore, limestone, coal, and grain between ports in Minnesota, Wisconsin, Michigan, Indiana, Ohio, and Pennsylvania. Coastal operations transport petroleum products, chemicals, aggregate materials, and containerized cargo between Atlantic, Gulf, and Pacific coast ports.
Seasonal factors strongly influence operations across this classification. Great Lakes shipping shuts down during winter ice season, concentrating vessel activity between March and December. Coastal tanker and barge traffic fluctuates with refinery output, construction demand for aggregates, and seasonal energy consumption patterns. Vessel age and regulatory compliance requirements including ballast water management and emission controls affect fleet investment decisions. New Jones Act vessel construction carries high capital costs due to domestic shipbuilding requirements, making fleet replacement planning a critical long-term business consideration for operators serving coastal and Great Lakes freight routes throughout the country.
What's Included in This Industry
- Operating bulk cargo vessels on Great Lakes shipping routes between domestic ports
- Providing coastal barge and tugboat freight services along Atlantic, Gulf, and Pacific coasts
- Transporting petroleum products and chemicals between domestic ports on coastal tankers
- Hauling iron ore, limestone, and coal on Great Lakes bulk carrier vessels
- Moving aggregate materials and construction supplies via coastal barge operations
- Providing containerized coastal freight service between U.S. domestic port pairs
- Operating articulated tug-barge units on coastal and intercoastal freight routes
- Transporting grain and agricultural products between Great Lakes elevator ports
- Moving refined fuel products between coastal refineries and distribution terminals
- Providing Jones Act compliant domestic freight service on coastal shipping lanes
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 | Coastal and Great Lakes Freight Transportation | 483113 |
Related NAICS Codes
| Code | Description | Relationship |
|---|---|---|
| 483111 | Deep Sea Freight Transportation | Deep sea freight carriers operate international ocean routes that connect with coastal domestic shipping at major port complexes for cargo distribution |
| 483211 | Inland Water Freight Transportation | Inland waterway freight carriers operate on rivers and intracoastal channels, connecting with coastal carriers at port interchange points |
| 488320 | Marine Cargo Handling | Marine cargo handling companies load and unload barges and vessels at coastal and Great Lakes port terminals, supporting freight transfer operations |
| 488330 | Navigational Services to Shipping | Navigational services provide harbor piloting and tug assist for coastal vessels entering and departing port channels and anchorage areas |
| 336611 | Ship Building and Repairing | Ship building and repairing yards construct Jones Act compliant vessels and perform dry dock maintenance for coastal and Great Lakes freight fleets |
| 488310 | Port and Harbor Operations | Port and harbor operations manage the berths, docks, and terminal infrastructure that coastal and Great Lakes freight vessels depend on for cargo exchange |
Geographic Concentration
Top states by share of national establishments.
| # | State | % Est. | Total Est. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Alaska | 17.8% | 85 |
| 2 | Louisiana | 14.4% | 69 |
| 3 | Florida | 14.0% | 67 |
| 4 | Texas | 10.2% | 49 |
| 5 | Washington | 7.1% | 34 |
| 6 | California | 6.7% | 32 |
| 7 | New York | 4.2% | 20 |
| 8 | Virginia | 4.0% | 19 |
| 9 | Massachusetts | 2.5% | 12 |
| 10 | New Jersey | 2.3% | 11 |
% Of Establishments
0%
18%
Source: County Business Patterns, U.S. Census Bureau[3]
SBA Lending Summary
8
Total SBA Loans
$800K
Total Loan Volume
$100K
Average Loan Size
10 yrs
Average Loan Term
12.25%
Average Interest Rate
112
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 483113 as small if they employ no more than 750 employees. Many tug and barge operators and regional coastal carriers fall below this threshold. SBA 7(a) loans[9] can finance vessel acquisitions, barge equipment, and working capital for qualifying coastal freight companies. The SBA 504 program[10] supports major vessel purchases and dock facility investments for owner-operated coastal and Great Lakes freight operations.
Top SBA Lenders
| # | Lender | Loans | Volume | Avg Loan |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | First Bank | 8 | $800K | $100K |
Frequently Asked Questions
Common questions about this industry.
What businesses are classified under NAICS 483113?
NAICS 483113 covers coastal barge operators, tugboat companies, Great Lakes bulk carriers, and coastal tanker lines providing domestic water freight transportation. Jones Act carriers serving U.S. port pairs qualify. The U.S. Census Bureau[5] provides the official classification.
How is NAICS 483113 different from deep sea shipping?
Coastal freight (483113) operates between domestic ports within U.S. waters, while deep sea freight (483111) serves international routes to foreign ports. The Census Bureau[11] separates them by whether cargo crosses international boundaries.
What is the SBA size standard for coastal freight carriers?
The SBA sets the size standard at 750 employees for NAICS 483113. Many tug-barge operators and regional carriers qualify as small businesses. Current standards appear in the SBA table of size standards[7].
Which NAICS codes relate most closely to 483113?
Key related codes include 483111 for deep sea freight, 483211 for inland waterway transport, 488320 for cargo handling, 488330 for navigational services, and 336611 for shipbuilding. Each connects to the domestic maritime freight network.
What industries interact with coastal freight carriers?
Inland barge operators (483211) feed cargo, port operators (488310) manage docks, cargo handlers (488320) load vessels, and domestic shipyards (336611) build and maintain Jones Act fleets. Petroleum refiners and aggregate producers are major customers generating freight demand.
What activities does NAICS 483113 include?
Activities cover coastal barge and tug operations, Great Lakes bulk shipping, domestic tanker runs, containerized coastal freight, and aggregate transport between domestic ports. The Census definition[5] covers the full scope.
Can coastal freight operators get SBA loans?
Carriers with fewer than 750 employees qualify for SBA 7(a) loans covering vessel costs and working capital. The 504 program funds vessel and dock investments. Details are at the SBA funding programs page[12].
Where are coastal freight operations concentrated?
Coastal freight concentrates along the Gulf Coast petroleum corridor, the Atlantic seaboard, and the Great Lakes iron ore and grain routes. Houston, New Orleans, Tampa, Norfolk, and the Great Lakes ports of Duluth, Cleveland, and Chicago handle the highest domestic waterborne freight volumes.
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
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