Compass Maritime

In 2000, the Sale and Purchase team from AL Burbank (founded in 1928 in New York City) spun off to create Compass Maritime. What began as a sale and purchase brokerage firm has rapidly expanded to a much more diverse company today. Compass Maritime is one of the preeminent chartering, sale and purchase brokerage, and maritime advisory firms based in the U.S.

In addition to chartering tank barges, tugs, and offshore barges, we actively sell, purchase, and charter both international and U.S. Flag ships and other assets. We remain active in the ship recycling and towage markets, and coordinate asset and/or fleet auctions. We offer valuation services and broader maritime consultancy and advisory services as well.

Team Accomplishments

Our Jones Act chartering team negotiated the transportation of over 100,000,000 barrels of oil and gas cargos in 2022, 2023 and 2024 and is again on pace to surpass that number in 2025.  The sale and purchase and recycling teams have completed over 1,000 transactions to buy or sell assets. Our offshore team has recently been involved in several high-profile projects. Learn about various projects and other exciting contributions from Compass Maritime by taking a look behind the scenes.

We add value to every deal across all our close collaborations with oil majors and refiners, trading shops, private equity groups, banks, grain houses, ship and barge owners, the U.S. government, Military Sealift Command, and others.

Behind the Scenes

Areas of Expertise

We work globally within a diverse range of maritime sectors including:

  • Container vessels
  • Cruise ships
  • Dry bulk carriers
  • Offshore support vessels
  • Oil tankers ranging from VLCCs to inland/coastal oil and chemical barges
  • Passenger ferries
  • Reefer vessels
  • Tweendeckers
  • U.S. Jones Act market for tugs, barges, and ships

Compass Maritime Services LLC is one of the pre-eminent Sale and Purchase brokers and maritime advisors based in the United States. The company was established in 2000 and the founding partners have been working together for over 25 years, previously with the sale & purchase Department of A.L. Burbank (incorporated in New York in 1929).

Our Team

Compass Maritime Market Report

Compass Maritime produces a highly acclaimed weekly report that focuses on the ship Sale & Purchase markets as well as the financial markets in the maritime sector.

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