In early December, maritime dealmakers will return to the Big Easy for Marine Money’s 2025 Marine Finance Forum – New Orleans.
It’s been an eventful year for the U.S. maritime industry, with a marine finance landscape that Matt McCleary, president of Marine Money, describes as “robust.”
“The market for U.S. marine finance — by which I mean Jones Act and U.S. flag — has never been busier,” he said. “There is pretty much nonstop mergers and acquisition deal flow.”
McCleary expects the U.S. market will see at least three more major deals announced before the year draws to a close.
“The credit market is extremely active (see Beal Bank USA’s deal announced for Otto Candies LLC), and there are even some capital markets deals in process,” McCleary said. “We have seen an unusual amount of transacting in the shipyard industry as companies position themselves to benefit from the SHIPS Act and the variety of U.S. government initiatives to bolster the domestic and international maritime industries.”
Marine Money’s New Orleans event will take place on Dec. 2. The forum is held each year during the week of the International WorkBoat Show — a strategic decision that aims to leverage the country’s largest gathering of maritime professionals, according to McCleary. (WorkBoat is an official media partner of the Marine Finance Forum – New Orleans.)
“WorkBoat is a ‘must attend’ event, which means the entire maritime industry is in New Orleans,” McCleary said. “Marine Money is a unique niche within that group: people who are involved in the dealmaking universe. All kinds of vessel owners, from tugs and barges to oceangoing ships. Lenders, investors, lawyers, finance arranging and advisors, insurance providers, charterers, shippers. It is a highly efficient, highly productive opportunity that only comes around once a year for the domestic market.”
The event helps attendees share insights and plan strategically, keeping them up to date on market trends, financial terms, and competitor activity, according to McCleary. “We have a very strong agenda packed with experts who put a lot of preparation into their sessions,” he explained. “This information is key for planning 2026... It’s also a great way to see what your competitors are doing and thinking.”
Marine Money events are also known to provide excellent networking opportunities, which McCleary said can be very powerful and often career-defining. “Seeing existing clients and meeting new clients is the key to business development, and also remaining competitive,” he added.
In addition, Marine Money events consistently provide a platform for dealmaking. “Transactions are always generated at this event and the dinners and parties that revolve around it,” McCleary said. “Even after all these years, we are excited and amazed by what happens when you put high-level decision makers together in the right kind of environment.”
For more information or to register for the 2025 Marine Finance Forum – New Orleans, click here.
