Deck Machinery & Ship Equipment Market - Global Forecast 2026-2032

The Deck Machinery & Ship Equipment Market size was estimated at USD 4.39 billion in 2025 and expected to reach USD 4.75 billion in 2026, at a CAGR of 7.76% to reach USD 7.41 billion by 2032.

Deck machinery and ship equipment form the backbone of maritime commerce, powering operations that deliver over 80 percent of global goods by tonnage. In 2023, worldwide seaborne trade rebounded by 2.4 percent to reach 12.3 billion metric tons, recovering from the contraction experienced in 2022 as supply chains adjusted to post-pandemic dynamics and rising geopolitical tensions. This modest but crucial uptick reflects both underlying resilience and fresh challenges confronting the industry.

As vessel operators and port authorities pursue efficiency, the sector is also navigating an ambitious regulatory landscape. The International Maritime Organization’s 2023 Greenhouse Gas Strategy sets the maritime sector on a path to reduce carbon intensity by at least 40 percent by 2030 and achieve net-zero emissions by or around 2050. This multi-decade roadmap underscores the urgency of adopting alternative fuels, energy-efficient designs, and lifecycle GHG assessments in vessel and equipment planning.

Meanwhile, digitalization is reshaping deck machinery operations, enabling remote monitoring, predictive maintenance, and automated controls. Advances in artificial intelligence and connectivity are projected to cut industry emissions by millions of tonnes annually by optimizing navigation and equipment performance. Collectively, these forces underscore a transformative convergence of technology, policy, and trade, setting the stage for a deeper exploration of opportunities and risks within the global deck machinery and ship equipment market.

The deck machinery and ship equipment sector is experiencing a period of rapid transformation driven by sustainability frameworks, digital innovation, and geostrategic shifts. Heightened environmental mandates, including the IMO’s commitment to decarbonize shipping, have accelerated investment in green solutions such as all-electric winches and capstans. Technology providers are racing to introduce low- or zero-emission propulsion alternatives, reflecting an industry-wide pivot toward environmental resilience in response to evolving regulatory checkpoints.

Digital connectivity is equally redefining operational paradigms. Ports like the Freeport of Riga have deployed private 5G networks to extend secure, high-bandwidth communications over 100 miles offshore, facilitating real-time data exchange between vessels, drones, and onshore control centers. Such infrastructures enable predictive maintenance, remote troubleshooting, and advanced hydrographic surveys, significantly boosting both safety and throughput. Additionally, AI-powered navigation systems demonstrate the potential to curb emissions by optimizing routes and maneuvers, with studies indicating annual CO₂ savings in the tens of millions of tonnes once fully deployed.

As global supply chains adapt to lingering disruptions and new trade patterns, the push for autonomous and semi-autonomous deck machinery highlights the sector’s drive for higher operational efficiency. Hyundai Glovis, in partnership with Avikus, plans to retrofit car-carrier vessels with Level-2 Autonomous Surface Ship systems by 2026, foreshadowing a future where remote control and intelligent optimization become standard features on heavy-lift and cargo-handling platforms. In sum, the interplay of stringent environmental regulations, advanced connectivity, and autonomous technology is reshaping the competitive landscape, demanding swift strategic responses from industry leaders.

Beginning in early 2025, U.S. trade policy has introduced a complex web of tariffs and fees targeting both imported raw materials and finished maritime assets. March 12, 2025 saw the full reinstatement of a 25 percent Section 232 tariff on all steel imports and a parallel 25 percent duty on aluminum, eliminating prior exemptions and exclusion processes for many major trading partners. These measures were intended to bolster domestic metals production but also reverberated through equipment manufacturers reliant on global supply chains, driving up input costs for critical components in deck cranes, winches, and thrusters.

In June 2025, an even steeper tariff rate of 50 percent on steel and aluminum imports took effect, with selective quotas for certain allies under economic prosperity agreements. This adjustment further strained production margins for deck machinery suppliers, prompting many to explore alternative sourcing strategies or relocate fabrication closer to domestic mills to mitigate cost pressures and safeguard lead times.

On the maritime asset side, the U.S. Trade Representative’s Section 301 action against Chinese maritime dominance proposes phased fees-rising after a 180-day grace period-on net tonnage for Chinese-built vessels calling at U.S. ports. Simultaneously, tariffs of up to 100 percent are under consideration for ship-to-shore cranes, intermodal chassis, and containers of Chinese origin. Port operators, who source roughly 80 percent of their cranes from Chinese manufacturers, have lobbied for exemptions and phased implementation, warning of potential cost escalations in the billions and significant delays in port modernization programs.

Together, the cumulative impact of steel and aluminum tariffs, combined with new duties on foreign-built cranes and vessels, is reshaping supply chains and supplier strategies. Companies that can navigate this evolving trade landscape by leveraging domestic partnerships, optimizing production footprints, and proactively engaging in policy dialogues will be best positioned to maintain competitive edge and ensure continuity of service in a more protectionist era.

Insights drawn from segmented market analysis reveal nuanced patterns of demand and growth across product categories, demarcated by distinct performance and technology preferences. In the mooring and anchoring segment, electric winches have become increasingly favored for commercial vessels due to their energy efficiency and lower maintenance requirements, while hydraulic winches maintain a strong foothold in heavy-lift offshore and naval applications where peak torque and robustness under extreme conditions are paramount. Pneumatic winches continue to serve specialized roles in environments demanding rapid response and minimal electrical risk, while vertical capstans are gaining traction among tugs and service vessels for their compact footprint and superior line engagement. Deck cranes reflect a triad of knuckle-boom, lattice boom, and telescopic configurations, each delivering unique reach and load capabilities aligned with vessel size and cargo handling profiles, with knuckle-boom cranes experiencing heightened demand in multipurpose fleets for their articulation and stowage flexibility.

Application analysis highlights the critical role of anchor handling in both deep-sea and shallow-water operations, reflecting offshore operator investments in far-off exploration and maintenance. Cargo handling spans bulk, containerized, and liquid cargo segments, each driving specific equipment features such as automated spreader interfaces for containers and corrosion-resistant grab attachments for bulk materials. Mooring operations, divided between shore mooring and single-point mooring, underscore the growing emphasis on dynamic positioning support equipment and quick-connect fittings, while towing operations rely on redundancy and safety enhancements in both salvage vessel and tug winch designs.

From an end-user perspective, commercial shipbuilders are bifurcated into new-build and retrofit programs, with retrofits prioritized for emission reductions and digital upgrades on aging fleets. Fishing companies, comprising longliners and trawlers, seek compact, energy-efficient mooring winches for minimal deck space and quiet operation. Naval forces emphasize redundancy and compliance with stringent military certifications across submarines and surface ships, while offshore operators demand vibration-resistant and remote-controlled deck equipment for drilling rigs, FPSO units, and fixed production platforms. Distribution channel insights reveal that OEM direct sales dominate new installations, fostering integrated design and lifecycle support, whereas aftermarket demand is increasingly driven by replacement parts and service contracts, emphasizing reliability, swift turnaround, and predictive maintenance capabilities.

Regional dynamics continue to shape competitive positioning and investment priorities across the Americas, EMEA, and Asia-Pacific. In the Americas, the United States and Brazil lead in infrastructure modernization, driven by nearshoring of manufacturing, expanded offshore energy projects, and port expansions on both coasts. These initiatives are enhancing dredging, crane capacity, and deck machinery upgrades, creating pockets of accelerated retrofit and new-build activity in Gulf of Mexico, Caribbean, and Pacific port clusters. Canada’s Arctic shipping corridors are also prompting specialized cold-climate deck equipment solutions to meet emerging polar logistics demands.

In Europe, Middle East & Africa, regulatory alignment on decarbonization under the European Green Deal has stimulated demand for electric and hybrid deck machinery across Mediterranean and North Sea trading routes. The Middle East’s offshore oil and gas sector continues to anchor heavy-lift crane orders, while Gulf Cooperation Council nations invest in LNG terminal upgrades. African ports, particularly along West Africa and the Red Sea, are channeling funds into capacity expansions and automation projects to capture growing trans-Saharan and Red Sea corridor traffic, even as chokepoint disruptions underscore the need for resilient, remote-operable equipment platforms.

Asia-Pacific remains the global manufacturing hub for deck machinery and ship equipment, with market-leading suppliers and extensive production networks concentrated in China, Japan, and South Korea. Domestic fleet expansions in India and Southeast Asia, alongside accelerated decarbonization roadmaps in Australia and Japan, are driving both new equipment orders and retrofit programs. Regional port infrastructure expansion projects-from the Bay of Bengal to the Strait of Malacca-are further amplifying demand for integrated deck machinery systems, while a competitive supply environment maintains pressure on cost structures and aftersales service benchmarks.

Leading companies are repositioning portfolios and forging strategic partnerships to capitalize on shifting demands in sustainability and digitalization. Kongsberg Maritime announced the integration of its digital business from Kongsberg Digital into its core maritime operations in Q1 2025, consolidating digital twin, energy simulation, and SiteCom solutions to accelerate the transition toward more efficient fleet operations and lifecycle management.

MacGregor’s acquisition by investment firm Triton in mid-2025 marks a renewed focus on aftermarket service expansion and lifecycle value. Under Triton’s ownership, MacGregor aims to leverage a global network of service centers and skilled personnel to enhance maintenance, remote diagnostics, and performance optimization across its cargo and load-handling product lines.

The drive toward electrification is further exemplified by Liebherr’s launch of the fully electric CBG 500 E crane delivered to ZHD Stevedores. This all-electric transshipment crane underscores a broader industry pivot toward zero-emission deck solutions, offering significant efficiency gains and environmental benefits in port and transshipment operations.

Meanwhile, technology-led innovation is shaping competitive differentiation. Rolls-Royce has outlined a robust R&D roadmap emphasizing high-efficiency energy storage, permanent magnet propulsion, and multi-purpose deck machinery solutions, investing roughly $250 million into advanced systems integration and predictive analytics by 2025 to drive safety and emission reductions. Simultaneously, leading suppliers such as MacGregor and Wärtsilä continue to roll out AI-enabled monitoring systems and autonomous winches, demonstrating up to 30 percent reductions in mooring time and measurable maintenance cost savings across commercial fleets.

To thrive amid accelerating decarbonization mandates and evolving trade policies, industry leaders should prioritize a dual strategy of technology investment and supply chain agility. First, developing modular, zero-emission deck machinery solutions-leveraging permanent magnet drives, energy recovery systems, and battery-hybrid configurations-will ensure compliance with tightening emissions regulations while enhancing differentiation in competitive bids. Integrating digital monitoring capabilities and remote-control interfaces from design inception can further bolster value propositions by reducing downtime and enabling proactive maintenance.

Second, building resilient supplier networks is essential. Establishing strategic partnerships with domestic steel and aluminum producers, exploring near-shoring options for critical components, and engaging directly with policymakers can mitigate tariff-driven cost volatility. In parallel, diversifying manufacturing footprints across regions and harnessing tactical inventory buffers for raw materials will maintain production continuity in the face of tariff escalations and geopolitical disruptions.

Finally, fostering aftermarket service excellence through data-driven analytics and performance-based contracts can unlock new revenue streams and deepen customer loyalty. By combining advanced diagnostics, digital twin simulations, and outcome-oriented service agreements, equipment providers can shift from transactional sales to lifelong partnerships, capturing higher margins and reinforcing competitive positioning in a tightening market.

This market assessment draws upon a rigorous combination of secondary and primary research methodologies to ensure the validity and depth of insights. Secondary research included analysis of publicly available trade and shipment data from UNCTAD, regulatory frameworks from the International Maritime Organization, official tariff proclamations and agency fact sheets from the White House and USTR, as well as corporate press releases and financial filings from leading deck machinery suppliers. This was supplemented with industry publications, port authority announcements, and newswire sources to capture the most recent market developments.

Primary research entailed targeted interviews with senior executives at shipyards, deck machinery OEMs, port operators, and independent equipment servicing firms. These qualitative engagements provided on-the-ground perspectives on supplier-end-user dynamics, technology adoption hurdles, and strategic response to evolving trade regulations. Quantitative validation involved triangulating forecast assumptions with proprietary vessel fleet data, order-booking trends, and aftermarket service utilisation rates.

Finally, data synthesis and cross-verification were conducted through expert panel reviews comprising former port directors, maritime equipment consultants, and trade policy analysts to refine the market narrative, identify potential biases, and ensure alignment with real-world operational constraints. This multi-layered approach underpins the robustness and reliability of the findings presented herein.

The deck machinery and ship equipment market stands at a critical juncture where sustainability targets, digital transformation, and trade policy shifts converge to reshape competitive dynamics. While the industry demonstrates resilience through steady trade recovery and innovation, the cascading effects of metal tariffs and proposed duties on foreign cranes and vessels underscore the imperative for agile sourcing strategies and enhanced domestic partnerships. Segment analysis reveals differentiated growth pockets-ranging from electric mooring systems in commercial fleets to advanced knuckle-boom cranes in offshore sectors-highlighting the importance of tailored product offerings.

Regional insights confirm that emerging port expansions in the Americas, evolving decarbonization mandates in EMEA, and robust manufacturing and retrofit demand in Asia-Pacific will collectively drive sustained equipment investments. Leading companies are responding with strategic integrations, electrified product launches, and AI-enabled service models, illustrating that future success hinges on a balanced emphasis on technology, supply-chain resilience, and aftermarket excellence.

Collectively, these findings suggest that industry stakeholders who seamlessly integrate green technologies, digital services, and dynamic sourcing frameworks will be best positioned to thrive in an increasingly regulated and competitive environment. Proactive engagement with policy developments, coupled with strategic investments in sustainable innovation, will unlock new avenues for growth and ensure enduring maritime leadership.

To embark on the next phase of strategic decision-making or to secure a comprehensive copy of the full market research report, please connect with Ketan Rohom, Associate Director, Sales & Marketing. Ketan brings deep industry expertise and can provide tailored insights, discuss data access options, and guide you through specialized consulting services designed to empower your organization’s growth in the deck machinery and ship equipment sector. Reach out today to transform critical intelligence into actionable strategies and ensure you lead with confidence in an evolving maritime landscape.