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Boat Repair & Maintenance in the UK - Market Research Report (2014-2029)

Jack Dixon Jack Dixon London, United Kingdom Last Updated: May 2024 SIC C33.150

Revenue

£1.4bn

2024-25

£1.4bn

Past 5-Year Growth

Profit

£XX.Xm

Employees

9,631

Businesses

893

Wages

£XXX.Xm

Boat Repair & Maintenance in the UK industry analysis

Revenue is forecast to expand at a compound annual rate of 1.2% over the five years through 2024-25 to £1.4 billion. Intense competition from alternative means of transport has squashed demand for boat repair and maintenance services. However, increased defence budgets have provided some opportunities for contractors to service military and naval ships, partially offsetting decreases in asset utilisation rates by cargo and sea passenger vessels following the pandemic.
The pandemic resulted in falling freight and passenger water transport as lockdown restrictions limited the number of travellers, while subdued economic activity reduced output in downstream markets and reduced the need for shipping services. Passenger and freight water transport volumes slowly recovered following the easing of restrictions, reigniting demand for repair and maintenance services. However, cargo volumes and passenger numbers remain below pre-pandemic levels, which has reduced revenue generated from the commercial market. Over 2024-25, revenue is expected to climb by 3.4% as the UK moves past recessionary and inflationary pressure, increasing spending on recreational boat and boat repair services.
Over the five years through 2029-30, revenue is anticipated to climb at a compound annual rate of 7.3% to £1.9 billion. Passenger and freight water travel will trend upwards, supporting steady asset utilisation and increasing vessel maintenance intervals. Rising defence spending, driven by lingering geopolitical conflict, will help steady revenue opportunities, providing lucrative contract opportunities for large-scale companies like BAE Systems and Babcock International. Meanwhile, improving economic conditions will also facilitate gradual increases in disposable incomes, boosting the size of the recreational boat and yacht market in the long term.

Trends and Insights

  • Manufacturing woes constrained freight water transport growth. The negative economic aftermath of COVID-19 and ensuing supply chain disruption saw industrial and manufacturing activity tumble, contributing to decreased freight volumes in international ports.
  • Marine maintenance takes a hit amid decreased sea transport. A tumble in passenger and freight sea transport extended maintenance intervals and lessened asset utilisation, reducing the frequency of essential repair and maintenance for vessels.
  • The South's strategic location stokes contractors' interest. Boasting large ports and naval bases, the South East and South West regions present a strategic location for boat repair and maintenance contractors thanks to the plentiful traffic of large vessels and private boats.
  • Initial costs can be high but offer a differentiation opportunity. While start-up expenses for boat repair and maintenance can involve large investments in equipment and parts, providers can set themselves apart by honing their expertise in specialised fields.

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  • Critical performance data and rankings
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Industry Statistics and Trends

Market size and recent performance (2014-2029)

Industry revenue has grown at a CAGR of 1.2 % over the past five years, to reach an estimated £1.4bn in 2024.

Trends and Insights

Regulatory developments force vessel owners to make alterations

  • In 2015, the EU enforced a 0.1% limit on sulphur permitted in ship fuel. Vessel owners can purchase low-sulphur fuel or invest in sulphur-scrubbing technology.
  • Additional trends and insights available with purchase
Boat Repair & Maintenance in the UK
Revenue (2014-2029)
IBISWorld Logo Source: IBISWorld

Industry outlook (2024-2029)

Market size is projected to grow over the next five years.

Trends and Insights

Passenger numbers will continue to climb, boosting revenue prospects

  • Although passenger numbers have risen from the lows caused by the pandemic, significant inflationary and recessionary pressures have caused consumer confidence to plummet.

Biggest companies in the Boat Repair & Maintenance in the UK

Company
Market Share (%)
2025
Revenue (£m)
2025
BAE Systems plc
229.7
Babcock International Group plc
104.8
A&P Group Ltd
53.3

To view the market share and analysis for all 4 top companies in this industry, view purchase options.

Products & Services Segmentation

Boat Repair & Maintenance in the UK
Products & Services
IBISWorld Logo Source: IBISWorld

Industry revenue is measured across several distinct product and services lines, including Dry-dock services, Repair and maintenance services and Cleaning services. Dry-dock services is the largest segment of the Boat Repair & Maintenance in the UK.

Trends and Insights

Repair and maintenance services are essential by nature, representing a steady revenue share

  • Contractors perform repairs and maintenance on numerous boats, from small leisure boats to sizeable commercial cargo vessels, while the ship is still in the water.
  • More insights available in the full report

Table of Contents

About this industry

Industry definition

This industry provides ship and boat repair and maintenance services, including dry-dock or in-water repair, spare part supply and cleaning services for commercial customers, fishermen, military and recreational boat users.

What's included in this industry?

Dry-dock servicesRepair and maintenance servicesCleaning servicesNew and replacement parts supply

Companies

BAE Systems plcBabcock International Group plcA&P Group Ltd

Purchase this report to view all 4 major companies in this industry.

Related Terms

DRY-DOCKINGPLEASURE BOATALGAE

Industry Code

SIC 2007

SIC 33.15 - Boat Repair & Maintenance in the UK

Performance

Get an indication of the industry's health through historical, current and forward-looking trends in the performance indicators that make or break businesses.

Analyst insights

Manufacturing woes constrained freight water transport growth. The negative economic aftermath of COVID-19 and ensuing supply chain disruption saw industrial and manufacturin...

In this chapter (4)

  • Current Performance
  • Outlook
  • Volatility
  • Life Cycle

Key metrics

  • Annual Revenue, Recent Growth, Forecast, Revenue Volatility
  • Number of Employees, Recent Growth, Forecast, Employees per Business, Revenue per Employee
  • Number of Businesses, Recent Growth, Forecast, Employees per Business, Revenue per Business
  • Total Profit, Profit Margin, Profit per Business

Charts

  • Revenue, including historical (2014-2023) and forecast (2024-2029)
  • Employees, including historical (2014-2023) and forecast (2024-2029)
  • Businesses, including historical (2014-2023) and forecast (2024-2029)
  • Profit, including historical (2014-2024)
  • Industry Volatility vs. Revenue Growth
  • Industry Life Cycle

Detailed analysis

  • Trends in supply, demand and current events that are driving current industry performance
  • Expected trends, economic factors and ongoing events that drive the industry's outlook
  • Key success factors for businesses to overcome volatility
  • How contribution to GDP, industry saturation, innovation, consolidation, and technology and systems influence the industry's life cycle phase.

Products and Markets

Learn about an industry's products and services, markets and trends in international trade.

Analyst insight

Marine maintenance takes a hit amid decreased sea transport. A tumble in passenger and freight sea transport extended maintenance intervals and lessened asset utilisation, re...

In this chapter

  • Products & Services
  • Major Markets

Key metrics

  • Largest market segment and value in 2024
  • Product innovation level

Charts

  • Products & services segmentation in 2024
  • Major market segmentation in 2024

Detailed analysis

  • Trends impacting the recent performance of the industry's various segments
  • Innovations in the industry's product or service offering, specialization or delivery method
  • Key factors that successful businesses consider in their offerings
  • Buying segments and key trends influencing demand for industry products and services

Geographic Breakdown

Discover where business activity is most concentrated in an industry and the factors driving these trends to find opportunities and conduct regional benchmarking.

Analyst insights

The South's strategic location stokes contractors' interest. Boasting large ports and naval bases, the South East and South West regions present a strategic location for boat...

In this chapter (1)

  • Business Locations

Charts

  • Share of revenue, establishment, wages and employment in each region
  • Share of population compared to establishments in each region in 2024

Tables

  • Number and share of establishments in each region in 2024
  • Number and share of revenue each region accounts for in 2024
  • Number and share of wages each region accounts for in 2024
  • Number and share of employees in each region in 2024

Detailed analysis

  • Geographic spread of the industry across Europe, and trends associated with changes in the business landscape
  • Key success factors for businesses to use location to their advantage

Competitive Forces

Get data and insights on what's driving competition in an industry and the challenges industry operators and new entrants may face, with analysis built around Porter's Five Forces framework.

Analyst insights

Initial costs can be high but offer a differentiation opportunity. While start-up expenses for boat repair and maintenance can involve large investments in equipment and part...

In this chapter (4)

  • Concentration
  • Barriers to Entry
  • Substitutes
  • Buyer & Supplier Analysis

Key metrics

  • Industry concentration level
  • Industry competition level and trend
  • Barriers to entry level and trend
  • Substitutes level and trend
  • Buyer power level and trend
  • Supplier power level and trend

Charts

  • Market share concentration among the top 4 suppliers from 2019-2024
  • Supply chain including upstream supplying industries and downstream buying industries, flow chart

Detailed analysis

  • Factors impacting the industry’s level of concentration, such as business distribution, new entrants, or merger and acquisition activity.
  • Key success factors for businesses to manage the competitive environment of the industry.
  • Challenges that potential industry entrants face such as legal, start-up costs, differentiation, labor/capital intensity and capital expenses.
  • Key success factors for potential entrants to overcome barriers to entry.
  • Competitive threats from potential substitutes for the industry’s own products and services.
  • Key success factors for how successful businesses can compete with substitutes.
  • Advantages that buyers have to keep favorable purchasing conditions.
  • Advantages that suppliers have to maintain favorable selling conditions.
  • Key success factors for how businesses can navigate buyer and supplier power.

Companies

Learn about the performance of the top companies in the industry.

Analyst insights

BAE's financial growth stems from resilient military contracts. These contracts insulate the firm from economic uncertainty, ensuring a continuous revenue stream, as seen wit...

In this chapter

  • Market Share Concentration
  • Companies
  • Company Spotlights

Charts

  • Industry market share by company in 2020 through 2024
  • Major companies in the industry, including market share, revenue, profit and profit margin in 2024
  • Overview of BAE Systems plc's performance by revenue, market share and profit margin from 2018 through 2024
  • Overview of Babcock International Group plc's performance by revenue, market share and profit margin from 2018 through 2024
  • Overview of A&P Group Ltd's performance by revenue, market share and profit margin from 2018 through 2024
  • Overview of revenue, market share and profit margin trend for one additional company

Detailed analysis

  • Description and key data for BAE Systems plc, and factors influencing its performance in the industry
  • Description and key data for Babcock International Group plc, and factors influencing its performance in the industry
  • Description and key data for A&P Group Ltd, and factors influencing its performance in the industry
  • Description, key data and performance trends for one additional company

External Environment

Understand the demographic, economic and regulatory factors that shape how businesses in an industry perform.   

Analyst insights

The industry is principally governed by the Shipbuilding and Ship-repairing Regulations 1960. This regulation provides comprehensive guidelines to ensure safety while working...

In this chapter

  • External Drivers
  • Regulation & Policy
  • Assistance

Key metrics

  • Regulation & policy level and trend
  • Assistance level and trend

Charts

  • Regulation & Policy historical data and forecast (2014-2029) 
  • Assistance historical data and forecast (2014-2029) 

Detailed analysis

  • Demographic and macroeconomic factors influencing the industry, including Regulation & Policy and Assistance
  • Major types of regulations, regulatory bodies, industry standards or specific regulations impacting requirements for industry operators
  • Key governmental and non-governmental groups or policies that may provide some relief for industry operators.

Financial Benchmarks

View average costs for industry operators and compare financial data against an industry's financial benchmarks over time. 

Analyst insights

Owner-operated businesses skew profit calculations. Many self-employed owners draw wages from these profits, inflating industry averages while underrepresenting actual wages.

In this chapter

  • Cost Structure
  • Financial Ratios
  • Key Ratios

Key metrics

  • Profit margin, and how it compares to the sector-wide margin
  • Average wages, and how it compares to the sector-wide average wage
  • Largest cost component as a percentage of revenue
  • Industry average ratios for days' receivables, industry coverage and debt-to-net-worth ratio

Charts

  • Average industry operating costs as a share of revenue, including purchases, wages, depreciation, utilities, rent, other costs and profit in 2024
  • Average sector operating costs as a share of revenue, including purchases, wages, depreciation, utilities, rent, other costs and profit in 2024
  • Investment vs. share of economy

Data tables

  • Liquidity Ratios (2018-2022)
  • Coverage Ratios (2018-2022)
  • Leverage Ratios  (2018-2022)
  • Operating Ratios (2018-2022)
  • Assets (2018-2022)
  • Liabilities (2018-2022)
  • Cash Flow & Debt Service Ratios (2014-2029)
  • Revenue per Employee (2014-2029)
  • Revenue per Enterprise (2014-2029)
  • Employees per Establishment (2014-2029)
  • Employees per Enterprise (2014-2029)
  • Average Wage (2014-2029)
  • Wages/Revenue (2014-2029)
  • Establishments per Enterprise (2014-2029)
  • IVA/Revenue (2014-2029)
  • Imports/Demand (2014-2029)
  • Exports/Revenue (2014-2029)

Detailed analysis

  • Trends in the cost component for industry operators and their impact on industry costs and profitability 

Key Statistics

Industry Data

Data Tables

Including values and annual change:

  • Revenue (2014-2029)
  • IVA (2014-2029)
  • Establishments (2014-2029)
  • Enterprises (2014-2029)
  • Employment (2014-2029)
  • Exports (2014-2029)
  • Imports (2014-2029)
  • Wages (2014-2029)

Top Questions Answered

Unlock comprehensive answers and precise data upon purchase. View purchase options.

What is the market size of the Boat Repair & Maintenance in the UK industry in United Kingdom in 2024?

The market size of the Boat Repair & Maintenance in the UK industry in United Kingdom is £1.4bn in 2024.

How many businesses are there in the Boat Repair & Maintenance in the UK industry in 2024?

There are 893 businesses in the Boat Repair & Maintenance in the UK industry in United Kingdom, which has grown at a CAGR of 6.1 % between 2019 and 2024.

Has the Boat Repair & Maintenance in the UK industry in United Kingdom grown or declined over the past 5 years?

The market size of the Boat Repair & Maintenance in the UK industry in United Kingdom has been growing at a CAGR of 1.2 % between 2019 and 2024.

What is the forecast growth of the Boat Repair & Maintenance in the UK industry in United Kingdom over the next 5 years?

Over the next five years, the Boat Repair & Maintenance in the UK industry in United Kingdom is expected to grow.

What are the biggest companies in the Boat Repair & Maintenance in the UK market in United Kingdom?

The biggest companies operating in the Boat Repair & Maintenance market in United Kingdom are BAE Systems plc, Babcock International Group plc and A&P Group Ltd

What does the Boat Repair & Maintenance in the UK in United Kingdom include?

Dry-dock services and Repair and maintenance services are part of the Boat Repair & Maintenance in the UK industry.

Which companies have the highest market share in the Boat Repair & Maintenance in the UK in United Kingdom?

The company holding the most market share in United Kingdom is BAE Systems plc.

How competitive is the Boat Repair & Maintenance in the UK industry in United Kingdom?

The level of competition is high and steady in the Boat Repair & Maintenance in the UK industry in United Kingdom.

Related Industries

Widen your competitive advantage with related industries

Competitors

  • Aircraft, Engine & Parts Manufacturing in the UK
  • Aircraft Repair, Maintenance & Overhaul in the UK

Complementors

  • Shipbuilding in the UK
  • Recreational Boat & Yacht Building in the UK

International industries

  • Global Ship & Boat Building
  • Ship Building in the US
  • Boat Dealership and Repair in the US
  • Shipbuilding and Repair Services in Australia
  • Boatbuilding and Repair Services in Australia

View all industries in United Kingdom

Methodology

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Our analysts start with official, verified and publicly available sources of data to build the most accurate picture of each industry. Analysts then leverage their expertise and knowledge of the local markets to synthesize trends into digestible content for IBISWorld readers. Finally, each report is reviewed by one of IBISWorld’s editors, who provide quality assurance to ensure accuracy and readability.

IBISWorld relies on human-verified data and human-written analysis to compile each standard industry report. We do not use generative AI tools to write insights, although members can choose to leverage AI-based tools within the platform to generate additional analysis formats.

What data sources do IBISWorld analysts use?

Each industry report incorporates data and research from government databases, industry-specific sources, industry contacts, and our own proprietary database of statistics and analysis to provide balanced, independent and accurate insights.

Key data sources in the UK include:

  • Office for National Statistics
  • Office for Budget Responsibility
  • Bank of England

Analysts also use industry specific sources to complement catch-all sources, although their perspective may focus on a particular organization or representative body, rather than a clear overview of all industry operations. However, when balanced against other perspectives, industry-specific sources provide insights into industry trends.

These sources include:

  • Industry and trade associations
  • Industry federations or regulators
  • Major industry players annual or quarterly filings

Finally, IBISWorld’s global data scientists maintain a proprietary database of macroeconomic and demand drivers, which our analysts use to help inform industry data and trends. They also maintain a database of statistics and analysis on thousands of industries, which has been built over our more than 50-year history and offers comprehensive insights into long-term trends.

How does IBISWorld forecast its data?

IBISWorld’s analysts and data scientists use the sources above to create forecasts for our proprietary datasets and industry statistics. Depending on the dataset, they may use regression analysis, multivariate analysis, time-series analysis or exponential smoothing techniques to project future data for the industry or driver. Additionally, analysts will leverage their local knowledge of industry operating and regulatory conditions to impart their best judgment on the forecast model.

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