Cargo handling for water transport activities Companies in the UK

SIC 52241Transportation and storage|214.3% formed since 2020|Data updated 7 Jun 2026
556
Active

556 active UK companies are classified under cargo handling for water transport activities (SIC code 52241), a specialised sector. This sector falls under Section H — Transportation and storage — of the UK Standard Industrial Classification. The sector has a relatively low 0.2% dissolution rate — 556 of 644 registrations remain active. The sector is experiencing rapid growth, with 214.3% of active businesses incorporated since 2020 — indicating strong recent demand. 95% of companies were formed after 2010, marking this as a sector with predominantly recent entrants. The average company age in this sector is 9.6 years. London leads with 25% of companies in this sector.

Source: Companies House register via UVAGATRON, June 2026

556
Active Companies
H
SIC Section
1930
Oldest Company
214.3%
Growth (2020s)
9.6 yr
Avg Company Age

A rapidly growing sector with 214.3% of active companies formed since 2020.

Incorporation by Decade
10%
26%
56%
Pre-1990: 25
1990s: 27
2000s: 64
2010s: 168
2020s: 360

Data Signals

Governance
1,7795 src
Financial
1,0906 src
Compliance
3657 src
Risk
2927 src
Trade
1751 src
operational
201 src
quality
83 src
ESG
81 src
growth
42 src
innovation
42 src
corporate_structure
11 src

Sector Overview

The cargo handling for water transport activities sector has a <Link href="/glossary/company-dissolution">0.2% dissolution rate</Link>. The average active company in this sector is 9.6 years old. Geographic concentration: 25% in LONDON.

0.2%
Dissolution rate
9.6 yrs
Avg company age

Company Size Breakdown

Small: 23 (64%)Medium: 4 (11%)Large: 9 (25%)

Government Activity

Companies in the cargo handling for water transport activities sector have been awarded 3 government contracts worth £0.2M in total.

Frequently Asked Questions

How many cargo handling for water transport activities companies are there in the UK?

There are 556 active companies classified under SIC code 52241 (Cargo handling for water transport activities) in the UK, out of 644 total registered.

What is SIC code 52241?

SIC code 52241 stands for "Cargo handling for water transport activities". It belongs to Section H — Transportation and storage of the UK Standard Industrial Classification.

Where are most cargo handling for water transport activities companies located?

The largest concentrations are in LONDON (140), BIRMINGHAM (27), MANCHESTER (16).

What is the average age of cargo handling for water transport activities companies?

The average active cargo handling for water transport activities company in the UK is 9.6 years old, with the oldest registration dating back to 1930.

What government data is available for cargo handling for water transport activities companies?

Our database contains 3,746 data signals across 11 categories for active cargo handling for water transport activities companies. The largest category is Governance with 1,779 signals from 5 government sources.

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Data is updated daily from official UK government sources including Companies House. Information is provided for reference only.