SIC code 50200 classifies businesses engaged in sea and coastal freight water transport. There are 2,148 active companies registered under this code in the UK, forming a substantial sector within the national economy. It falls under Section H (Transportation and storage) of the UK SIC 2007 classification system, which is used by Companies House to categorise all registered businesses.
See the full industry analysis on the Sea and coastal freight water transport industry page.
With a 85% survival rate, this sector shows strong business longevity. Only 208 of 2,541 companies registered under this code have dissolved, well below the UK average. The average company age is 13.7 years, indicating an established sector with a mix of long-running businesses and newer entrants. Growth has been exceptional recently: 44% of all active companies were formed since 2020, marking this as one of the fastest-expanding classifications. The 2010s contributed another 27%, meaning the vast majority of businesses are relatively new. Geographically, the sector is heavily concentrated: LONDON alone accounts for 36% of all active companies (772 firms). The top three locations — LONDON, WEMBLEY, LIVERPOOL — represent 45% of the sector.
SIC code 50200 stands for "Sea and coastal freight water transport" under the UK Standard Industrial Classification (SIC 2007) system. It belongs to Section H — Transportation and storage. Companies use this code when registering with Companies House to indicate their primary business activity. The code is required for annual confirmation statements and is used by HMRC, ONS, and other government bodies for statistical and regulatory purposes.
There are currently 2,148 active companies registered under SIC code 50200 in the UK, out of 2,541 total registrations. This gives a survival rate of 85%, meaning 15% of companies registered under this code have since dissolved. These figures are based on Companies House data and updated regularly.
The top locations for sea and coastal freight water transport companies (SIC 50200) are: LONDON (772), WEMBLEY (154), LIVERPOOL (33), HULL (27), MANCHESTER (26). Geographic concentration can reflect local economic conditions, industry clusters, or proximity to key markets and supply chains.
The sector is growing: 44% of currently active SIC 50200 companies were formed since 2020, and 27% during the 2010s. This sustained formation rate indicates ongoing demand for sea and coastal freight water transport services in the UK.
Companies classified under SIC 50200 have an average age of 13.7 years. This suggests a balanced sector with both established players and newer entrants. Notable companies include SVITZER MARINE LIMITED, CARNIVAL UK LTD., UNISERVE LIMITED.
Related SIC codes within the same division include: 50100 (Sea and coastal passenger water transport), 50300 (Inland passenger water transport), 50400 (Inland freight water transport), 5010 (Sale of motor vehicles). Companies may use multiple SIC codes if they operate across several of these related activities. When registering with Companies House, businesses should select the code that best represents their primary activity.
You can search for companies with SIC code 50200 (Sea and coastal freight water transport) using UVAGATRON's company explorer, which allows filtering by SIC code, location, and company status. Alternatively, Companies House offers a basic search on their website. Our platform adds risk intelligence, director networks, and signals from 50+ government databases to each company record.
Search, filter, and analyse 2,148 companies classified under this SIC code with AI-powered risk intelligence.
Data sourced from Companies House, HM Land Registry, FCA Register, and 50+ government databases. SIC classification follows the UK Standard Industrial Classification of Economic Activities 2007 (SIC 2007). Last updated: 2026-09-05.