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Industry · Form 5500 business code 483000
Water Transportation: retirement plans
Plans whose sponsor entered this principal business activity code on Form 5500.
Form 5500 information is as filed by the plan administrator with the Department of Labor and may be amended. Figures reflect the plan year shown, not current balances. The business code is chosen by the filer from the list in the Form 5500 instructions.
For plan year 2024, 144 retirement plans in water transportation with 100 or more participants filed Form 5500: 108 defined contribution and 36 defined benefit. They reported 240,682 participant records and $26.7B in net assets, counting every plan on the form.
The median defined contribution plan held $81,645 per participant, well above the national median of $53,031, and its employer put in $3,017 per active participant (national: $2,174). Among plans reporting Schedule C compensation the median was $130 per participant against $123 nationally.
Employers contributed $651M and participants $678M during the year, and the plans paid out $2.06B in benefits.
In 2009 the same group numbered 181 plans with $11.9B; by 2024 it was 144 plans (down 20%) and $26.7B (up 126%). From plan year 2023 the 100-participant line counts participants with account balances, which moved many plans to the short form.
Medians compared with all US plans
| Median plan, plan year 2024 | Industry: DC | US: DC | Industry: DB | US: DB |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Net assets per participant | $81,645 | $53,031 | $101,307 | $86,234 |
| Employer contributions per active participant | $3,017 | $2,174 | $12,594 | $10,244 |
| Schedule C compensation per participant | $130 | $123 | $563 | $344 |
| Schedule C compensation, share of net assets | 0.12% | 0.26% | 0.45% | 0.42% |
| Administrative expenses per participant | $129 | $116 | $814 | $527 |
Medians across plans with 100 or more participants (105 DC and 35 DB plans with a Schedule H here). Fee medians cover plans reporting an amount. DC: defined contribution, such as 401(k) and 403(b). DB: defined benefit pension.
Distribution of DC plans
| Measure | 25th percentile | Median | 75th percentile | Plans |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Net assets per participant | $44,847 | $81,645 | $145,777 | 105 |
| Employer contributions per active participant | $1,886 | $3,017 | $5,454 | 101 |
| Schedule C compensation per participant | $66.73 | $130 | $208 | 100 |
| Administrative expenses per participant | $59.16 | $129 | $212 | 102 |
Trend by plan year
| Plan year | Plans 100+ | Participants | Net assets | Employer contributions | Participant contributions | Median DC assets / participant | Median DC Sch. C / participant |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2025partial | 12 | 10,595 | $1.26B | $33.7M | $52.6M | $79,546 | $170 |
| 2024 | 144 | 240,682 | $26.7B | $651M | $678M | $81,645 | $130 |
| 2023 | 140 | 247,512 | $24.5B | $599M | $626M | $75,893 | $109 |
| 2022 | 150 | 246,537 | $22.0B | $640M | $556M | $65,341 | $103 |
| 2021 | 153 | 242,384 | $25.2B | $619M | $519M | $78,052 | $132 |
| 2020 | 154 | 239,427 | $24.0B | $588M | $489M | $73,287 | $113 |
| 2019 | 153 | 244,902 | $21.5B | $645M | $475M | $67,007 | $90.61 |
| 2018 | 158 | 241,921 | $18.8B | $616M | $465M | $60,596 | $88.12 |
| 2017 | 157 | 239,610 | $20.0B | $634M | $436M | $68,646 | $77.33 |
| 2016 | 160 | 238,165 | $18.1B | $813M | $437M | $63,812 | $61.59 |
| 2015 | 164 | 249,590 | $16.9B | $616M | $421M | $59,506 | $50.89 |
| 2014 | 164 | 252,026 | $17.1B | $570M | $384M | $59,794 | $34.14 |
| 2013 | 168 | 249,920 | $16.7B | $592M | $352M | $57,884 | $31.40 |
| 2012 | 174 | 250,492 | $14.8B | $623M | $336M | $50,277 | $35.00 |
| 2011 | 173 | 247,362 | $13.3B | $836M | $316M | $42,625 | $27.82 |
| 2010 | 180 | 255,050 | $13.2B | $546M | $311M | $45,190 | $28.91 |
| 2009 | 181 | 253,949 | $11.9B | $609M | $298M | $38,310 | $23.22 |
Plan year is the year in which the plan year began. The drop in large plans from 2023 follows a rule change: the 100-participant line now counts participants with account balances, so many plans moved to the short form.
Provider share
Service provider organisations named most often on the Schedule C of the 145 plans on this page's list, by number of plans. A plan usually names several providers.
Largest plans
The 40 largest by participants of 145 plans with a page on this site.
| Plan | Sponsor | State | Type | Participants | Net assets | Per participant | Employer / active | Sch. C / participant |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Ilwu-Pma Savings (401(K)) Plan | Pacific Maritime Association | CA | DC | 19,810 | $3.44B | $173,649 | $1,873 | $9.52 |
| Seafarers Pension Plan | Board of Trustees Seafarers Pension Plan | MD | DB | 17,705 | $2.06B | $116,076 | $1,802 | $620 |
| Seafarers Money Purchase Pension Plan | Board of Trustees Seafarers Money Purchase Pension Plan | MD | DC | 16,362 | $168M | $10,244 | $1,429 | $82.26 |
| CSX Pension Plan | CSX Corporation | FL | DB | 14,948 | $2.29B | $153,210 | — | — |
| Maersk Savings Plan | Maersk Agency USA, Inc. | NJ | DC | 13,564 | $1.02B | $74,922 | $2,137 | $53.27 |
| Nysa-Ila Pension Trust Fund & Plan | Board of Trustees, Nysa-Ila Pension Trust Fund and Plan | NJ | DB | 8,915 | $1.36B | $152,171 | $11,661 | $636 |
| Kirby 401(k) Plan | Kirby Corporation | TX | DC | 6,601 | $850M | $128,787 | $6,120 | $81.80 |
| Royal Caribbean Cruises Ltd. Ret. Savings Plan | Royal Caribbean Cruises Ltd. | FL | DC | 6,449 | $926M | $143,570 | $5,539 | $99.77 |
| Meba Pension Trust-Defined Benefit Plan | Board of Trustees, Meba Pension Trust-Defined Benefit Plan | MD | DB | 5,626 | $925M | $164,468 | $15,992 | $895 |
| Edison Chouest Offshore Retirement Plan | Galliano Marine Service, L.L.C. | LA | DC | 5,522 | $381M | $68,978 | $2,137 | $42.80 |
| Chemours Company Retirement Savings Plan | The Chemours Company | DE | DC | 5,178 | $965M | $186,325 | $8,591 | $162 |
| American Maritime Officers Defined Contribution Plan | Board of Trustees American Maritime Officers Defined Contribution Plan | FL | DC | 4,972 | $356M | $71,597 | $6,845 | $240 |
| Inlandboatmen's Union of the Pacific National Pension Plan | Board of Trustees, Ibu of the Pacific National | OR | DB | 4,899 | $299M | $61,119 | $10,753 | $251 |
| Masters Mates & Pilots Individual Retirement Account Plan | Board of Trustees of M.m.&p. Individual Retirement Account Plan | MD | DC | 4,737 | $523M | $110,402 | $6,260 | $83.93 |
| Gis, LLC Compensation Deferral Plan | Grand Isle Shipyard, LLC | LA | DC | 4,608 | $86.3M | $18,723 | $1,031 | $22.27 |
| The Carnival Corporation Fun Ship Savings Plan | Carnival Corporation | FL | DC | 4,597 | $501M | $108,893 | $4,343 | $76.13 |
| American Maritime Officers Pension Plan | The Board of Trustees American Maritime Officers Pension Plan | FL | DB | 4,385 | $758M | $172,806 | $27,999 | $670 |
| Masters, Mates & Pilots Pension Plan | Board of Trustees of Masters, Mates & Pilots Pension Plan | MD | DB | 4,220 | $328M | $77,755 | $20,306 | $317 |
| American Maritime Officers 401(k) Plan | Board of Trustees American Maritime Officers 401(k) Plan | FL | DC | 3,883 | $678M | $174,481 | $2,070 | $352 |
| Meba Pension Trust-Money Purchase Benefit Plan | Board of Trustees, Meba Pension Trust-Money Purchase Benefit | MD | DC | 3,337 | $306M | $91,834 | $5,262 | $70.77 |
| American Commercial Barge Line LLC 401(k) Plan | American Commercial Barge Line LLC | IN | DC | 2,530 | $207M | $81,645 | $2,674 | $90.07 |
| Seafarers International Union Agliw 401(k) Plan | Board of Trustees Seafarers Internationa Union Agliw 401(k) Plan | MD | DC | 2,469 | $80.4M | $32,546 | — | $73.47 |
| Waterfront Employers - Ila Pension Plan | Board of Trustees Waterfront Employers - Ila Pension Plan | SC | DB | 2,396 | $493M | $205,851 | $12,520 | $889 |
| Kirby Pension Plan | Kirby Corporation | TX | DB | 2,356 | $373M | $158,192 | — | $327 |
| Crowley Retirement Income System Plan Rsa | Crowley Holdings Inc. | FL | DC | 2,285 | $411M | $179,711 | $7,375 | $135 |
| American Commercial Barge Line LLC Pension Plan | American Commercial Barge Line LLC | IN | DB | 2,250 | $171M | $75,875 | $19,872 | $500 |
| Moran Towing Corporation 401(k) Plan | Moran Towing Corporation | CT | DC | 2,091 | $296M | $141,537 | $5,221 | $34.85 |
| Meba 401(k) Plan | Board of Trustees Meba 401(k) Plan | MD | DC | 2,091 | $331M | $158,204 | $263 | $189 |
| The Savings and Growth Plan for Ports America Group and Affiliates | Ports America Shared Services, Inc. | AZ | DC | 2,062 | $275M | $133,336 | $4,067 | $144 |
| Siu Pacific District Pension Plan | Board of Trustees, Siu Pacific District Pension Plan | CA | DB | 2,049 | $119M | $57,885 | $5,250 | $256 |
| Retirement Plan for Employees of Matson | Matson, Inc. | CA | DB | 1,859 | $242M | $130,328 | $2,988 | $518 |
| Crowley Holdings, Inc. Employee Stock Ownership Plan | Crowley Holdings Inc. | FL | DC | 1,846 | $26.5M | $14,347 | $0 | — |
| Ingram Marine Group Retirement Plan | Ingram Industries Inc. | TN | DC | 1,719 | $75.3M | $43,792 | — | $58.39 |
| Enstructure 401(k) Plan | Enstructure LLC | MA | DC | 1,676 | $30.6M | $18,271 | $2,116 | $15.57 |
| Hornbeck Offshore Services, Inc. 401(k) Plan | Hornbeck Offshore Services, Inc. | LA | DC | 1,583 | $150M | $95,015 | $5,454 | $44.22 |
| Marquette Transportation Company 401(k) Plan | Marquette Transportation Company, LLC | KY | DC | 1,547 | $111M | $71,787 | $2,161 | $19.49 |
| Masters Mates & Pilots Adjustable Pension Plan | Board of Trustees of the Masters Mates & Pilots Adjustable Pension Pla | MD | DB | 1,508 | $103M | $68,163 | $9,964 | $293 |
| Hawaii Longshore Pension Plan | Board of Trustees of Hawaii Longshore Pension Plan | HI | DB | 1,452 | $429M | $295,768 | $40,815 | $1,018 |
| Canal Barge Company, Inc. Employees' 401(k) Savings Plan | Canal Barge Company, Inc. | LA | DC | 1,232 | $100M | $81,392 | $2,719 | $140 |
| Sup Money Purchase Pension Plan | Trustees of the Sup Qualified Plans Master Trust | CA | DC | 1,150 | $43.9M | $38,166 | $1,886 | $184 |
By plan size
By state
Questions and answers
How many retirement plans are there in water transportation?
144 plans with 100 or more participants filed Form 5500 for plan year 2024, out of 184 pension plans on the full form. Smaller plans file Form 5500-SF and are counted separately where shown.
What is the typical 401(k) balance in water transportation?
The median defined contribution plan reported $81,645 in net assets per participant (middle half of plans: $44,847 to $145,777); nationally it was $53,031. This is a plan-level average that includes former employees, not a typical person's balance.
What do employers contribute in water transportation?
The median defined contribution plan received $3,017 in employer contributions per active participant, against $2,174 nationally. Plans with no employer contribution are included at zero.
What are average 401(k) fees in water transportation?
Among defined contribution plans that report any Schedule C compensation, the median was $130 per participant and 0.12% of net assets (nationally $123 and 0.26%). Schedule C leaves out fund expense ratios and fees the employer pays, so it understates total cost.
Where does this come from?
Form 5500 annual reports in the EBSA research files, with filings received through 24 Aug 2026. Medians are computed by this site across plans with 100 or more participants.
Provenance
Source: U.S. Department of Labor, Employee Benefits Security Administration, Form 5500 research files, public domain, with filings received through 24 Aug 2026. Totals count every pension plan on the full form; medians and the plan list cover plans with 100 or more participants. See the methodology.