2022 NAICS national industry in sector 48-49 Transportation and Warehousing

488320 Marine Cargo Handling

NAICS 488320 is the US industry code for marine cargo handling. It covers establishments primarily engaged in providing stevedoring and other marine cargo handling services (except warehousing).

Code: 488320 (2022 NAICS)
Title: Marine Cargo Handling
Part of: Support Activities for Water Transportation
SBA small business limit: Average annual receipts up to $47 million
Closest UK SIC: 52241, 52242, 52243, 81291 and 1 more (details)

Changes coming. The NAICS 2027 revision applies to data from 1 January 2027, and SBA proposed new size standards on 20 August 2026. The values on this page are the ones in force today; we update this page when the official files change.

Official definition

This industry comprises establishments primarily engaged in providing stevedoring and other marine cargo handling services (except warehousing).

Source: US Census Bureau, 2022 NAICS descriptions.

When to use a different code

Census classifies these close-sounding activities somewhere else. Businesses mainly engaged in:

Preparing freight for transportation (except warehousing) are classified in U.S. Industry 488991, Packing and Crating.
Operating general merchandise, refrigerated, or other warehousing and storage facilities are classified in Subsector 493, Warehousing and Storage.
Operating docking and pier facilities are classified in Industry 488310, Port and Harbor Operations.

Source: US Census Bureau, 2022 NAICS cross-references.

Activities listed under 488320

The Census index assigns these 5 activities to this code. If your business matches one, this is your code.

Loading and unloading services at ports and harbors
Longshoremen services
Marine cargo handling services
Ship hold cleaning services
Stevedoring services

Source: US Census Bureau, 2022 NAICS index file.

SBA size standard for 488320

To count as a small business for SBA loans and federal contracts under NAICS 488320, your business (including affiliates) must not exceed $47 million in average annual receipts. Check your business.

Source: SBA table of size standards, effective March 17, 2023.

Closest UK SIC 2007 codes

There is no official one-to-one link between NAICS and UK SIC. These codes share the same international class (ISIC Rev. 4: 5224, 8129), so treat them as a starting point and check the definition.

Built from Census concordances 2022→2017 NAICS and 2017 NAICS→ISIC Rev. 4.

Similar codes to compare

Data last changed November 14, 2026. How this page is built.