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Port & Vessel Agency

Your Eyes, Ears, and Voice in Port

Capes Shipping Agencies: 
Your Voice in Port Since 1958

Founded in Norfolk, Virginia in 1958, Capes Shipping Agencies has served as the eyes, ears, and voice of its principals at port for more than six decades. As a subsidiary of CV International, Capes provides vessel agency and cargo forwarding services across major U.S. East and Gulf Coast ports — with deep local expertise in dry bulk, liquid bulk, breakbulk, and energy infrastructure, including offshore wind development.

When your vessel is in port, we're on the ground. We attend cargo operations, manage documentation, coordinate with terminals and government agencies, and protect your interests at every stage of the port call. Our local relationships across the ports we serve are what make that possible.

 

 

Full-Service Port Agency and Representation for Every Vessel, Every Cargo Type, Every Port Call.

 

Capes represents ship owners, operators, charterers, shippers, receivers, and brokers — providing experienced, accountable agency coverage across major U.S. East and Gulf Coast ports.

Port Agency Services

Full cargo agency attendance, including on-board vessel attendance, customs and vessel clearance, cargo documentation management, SOF preparation, inspection and survey coordination, and customized cost and performance reporting.

Husbandry Services

Complete vessel care during every port call — crew matters, spare parts, bunkering coordination, certificate renewals, security arrangements, and disbursement management — backed by direct relationships with terminals and waterfront vendors in every port we serve.

Freight Forwarding & Cargo Documentation 

Full cargo documentation including Bills of Lading, Cargo Manifests, Certificates of Origin, and Stow Plans, along with ACE filings, import customs brokerage, cargo blending and monitoring, laytime calculations, and market data analysis.

Built for the Breadth of Maritime Operations from Bulk Cargo to Complex Energy Projects.

 

Dry Bulk Operations

Coal, grain, aggregates, and other bulk commodities requiring attentive cargo oversight, laytime management, and accurate SOF documentation.
 

Liquid Bulk & Tanker Operations

Tanker calls requiring precise agency coordination, government compliance, and reliable disbursement management.

Breakbulk & Heavy Lift

Non-containerized and oversized cargo requiring specialized handling oversight, stow plan management, and close coordination with stevedores and terminals.

Offshore Wind Developers

Installation campaigns, survey vessels, and support fleets operating across multiple government agencies and project stakeholders — managed through a purpose-built project service model.

Energy & Power Generation

Conventional and renewable energy infrastructure moves where tight schedules, specialized equipment, and regulatory coordination define success.

EPC & Marine Construction

Engineering and construction operations involving multi-leg project cargo, derrick barges, and construction support vessels that demand active port presence and accountability.

Beyond the Port Call

When a vessel calls port, the work doesn't end at the dock. Cargo needs to clear customs, move inland, and arrive on schedule — and every handoff between separate providers is an opportunity for delays, miscommunication, and lost accountability.

Capes and CV International share leadership, values, and a common commitment to service excellence. That alignment means clients working across both companies get a consistent standard of partnership — from vessel arrival and port clearance through customs brokerage, freight forwarding, and final delivery.

We're There Before the Lines Are Fast.

Capes Shipping Agencies has spent more than 60 years building the local expertise, port relationships, and operational discipline that principals around the world depend on. Combined with CV International's freight forwarding and customs brokerage capabilities, it's a level of integrated coverage that goes well beyond traditional port agency.

From a routine port call to a multi-vessel offshore wind campaign, we're on the ground — accountable, experienced, and ready to protect your interests.

Let's Talk About Your Next Port Call.