Prologis and ABS Back New Maritime Venture Capital Fund
The investment division of Prologis, a prominent warehousing enterprise, alongside the American Bureau of Shipping (ABS), is spearheading a novel venture capital initiative that aims to channel investments into shipbuilding endeavors as the United States endeavors to rejuvenate its maritime industry.
TMV, an early-stage venture capital firm, has unveiled TMV Logistics, a $200 million fund designed to finance projects from pre-seed to Series A stages.
This initiative is geared towards revitalizing essential infrastructure in sectors including maritime, shipbuilding, ports, and intermodal logistics.
The fund is poised to invest in five fundamental technological domains: autonomous industrial systems and resilient operational frameworks; specialized robotics; dual-use maritime technologies; innovations in energy transition and next-generation fuel solutions; and artificial intelligence applications for operational decision-making and orchestration.
This investment initiative emerges in the wake of the Trump administration’s vigorous efforts to reinvigorate a sector that has largely relinquished its global market traction to competitors in China, South Korea, and Japan over the past few decades.
The considerable expansion of Chinese shipbuilding capabilities has been viewed by some as a national security concern in Washington, with the U.S. Trade Representative’s office labeling its industry supremacy as “unreasonable” last January.
A report from the Center for Strategic and International Studies indicates that a single state-run shipbuilder, the China State Shipbuilding Corporation, managed to construct more commercial vessels, when measured by tonnage, in 2024 than the U.S. has produced since World War II’s conclusion.
Aligning with the administration’s strategy, the U.S. Navy has proposed a substantial $65.8 billion budget for 2027—marking a 46 percent increase from the anticipated $47.3 billion investment for the current year.
The United States finds itself in a significant uphill battle, even as it has secured $150 million in commitments from South Korea to bolster its maritime revitalization efforts.
Data from shipping consultancy Clarksons, published in January, revealed a decline in China’s shipbuilders’ global market share for the first time in five years, shrinking from 70 percent in 2024 to 63 percent the following year.
South Korea, recognized as the world’s second-largest shipbuilding nation, benefited as its share grew from 17 percent two years ago to 21 percent in 2025, while Japan held steady at 5 percent, according to Clarksons.
The challenges facing American shipbuilding extend beyond mere production concerns. The current proposal also addresses the pressing need for U.S. ports and intermodal logistics systems to enhance their capacity amid geopolitical tensions, energy instability, and labor limitations.
Marina Hadjipateras, co-founder and managing partner at TMV, remarked, “We’re in the foothills of a multi-decade rebuild of maritime and industrial infrastructure. What’s transformed is not solely the capital but the entities deploying it. Operators are actively engaging in the venture space as a strategic instrument.”
In addition to financial investment, Prologis and ABS aim to act as collaborative partners, providing support for due diligence, shaping product development, and potentially serving as customers, design collaborators, and ecosystem integrators for TMV’s portfolio enterprises.
“With our expansive global logistics real estate footprint, we are acutely aware of how bottlenecks at ports and maritime corridors reverberate throughout the supply chain,” commented Will O’Donnell, managing director of global corporate development at Prologis Ventures.
“Investing in maritime innovation seamlessly aligns with our initiatives to enhance flow, visibility, and efficiency throughout the global supply chain from port to warehouse.”
Founded in 1862, the non-profit ABS is dedicated to providing classification, certification, and technical advisory services for marine and offshore assets, maintaining safety standards and protecting critical infrastructure.
John McDonald, ABS chairman and CEO, expressed, “ABS has long maintained that the future of maritime safety and operational performance will hinge on deeper collaborations with technological innovators.
Our partnership with TMV Logistics embodies this belief. By synergizing ABS’s technical expertise with TMV’s early-stage access and expansive ecosystem, we are situating ourselves at the forefront of the innovation that will define more secure, resilient, and efficient global fleets, shipyards, and maritime infrastructures.
Since its establishment in 2016, TMV has expanded its portfolio to include over 50 investments spanning maritime, logistics, artificial intelligence, and healthcare sectors.
With $230 million in assets under management, the companies within TMV’s portfolio have collectively attracted over $1 billion in subsequent funding.
The firm’s advisory board comprises senior figures from industry heavyweights such as Maersk, Flexport, intermodal terminal operator ConGlobal, Port of Los Angeles container terminal operator Fenix Marine Services, and major gas carrier owner Dorian LPG.
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