Marcura acquires ShipServ

Dubai-based maritime software provider Marcura has sealed a deal to acquire online procurement platform ShipServ for an undisclosed sum.

This strategic acquisition, described as a significant milestone for both companies, is expected to be finalised in the coming weeks.

Founded in 2001 Marcura employs around 850 people working across three segments: voyage-optimisation intelligence platform PortLog, port cost management firm DA-Desk and maritime payment processing company MarTrust.

ShipServ and its 126 employees will join the group but continue to operate as a separate company, maintaining its own brand identity. ShipServ has had a working partnership with MarTrust for the past six years.

“The combination of Marcura and ShipServ creates an industry-leading vertical software, data, payments and procurement platform focused on the maritime sector,” said Jens Poulsen (pictured right), Marcura Group CEO.

The acquisition has been overseen by Marlin Equity Partners, a global investment firm with over $8.9bn of capital under management, that made a growth equity investment in Marcura in August 2022.

Marcura sold recap and charter party management platform MarDocs to Clarksons’ software spin-off Sea earlier this year, one of many deals in the rapidly consolidating maritime tech space in 2023.