UK Waterways Travel sector payments beat national average, but a two-tier system persists

The Numbers

• Companies analysed: 13
• Average PaymentCheck Score: 64.0/100
• UK average: 50.0/100
• Waterways Travel sector outperformance over UK average: 14.0 points

What Stands Out

The Waterways Travel sector's average PaymentCheck score of 64.0 is certainly healthier than the UK average of 50.0, suggesting generally better payment practices within this specific area of the travel industry. However, the significant spread between the best and worst payers—a 74.4-point difference between London River Services Limited and Sunseeker International Limited—highlights a clear division in payment ethics.

Best Payers

1. LONDON RIVER SERVICES LIMITED - 96.9/100
2. CALMAC FERRIES LIMITED - 91.7/100
3. ARGO NAUTICAL LIMITED - 85.7/100
4. SAGA CRUISES LIMITED - 81.9/100
5. MITIE (DEFENCE) LIMITED - 80.7/100

Worst Payers

1. SUNSEEKER INTERNATIONAL LIMITED - 22.5/100
2. PRINCESS YACHTS LIMITED - 25.2/100
3. TARMAC MARINE LIMITED - 43.4/100
4. MSC CRUISE MANAGEMENT (UK) LIMITED - 47.5/100
5. RAYMARINE UK LIMITED - 56.6/100

Regional Patterns

The regional data paints an interesting, if limited, picture; Scotland, with an average score of 82.7 across two companies, demonstrates a strong commitment to timely payments, while the two companies in the North West show an average of 63.4. The "Unknown" region boasts the highest average payment score of 96.9, but this is based on a single company, London River Services Limited, so its regional relevance is questionable.

Suppliers who are kept waiting past payment deadlines can calculate what they are owed using a late payment calculator.

While the waterways travel sector surpasses the UK average by 14 points, the wide range in payment scores, from London River Services Limited's 96.9 to Sunseeker International Limited's dismal 22.5, underscores the need for suppliers to conduct thorough due diligence.

2025: The Story

Overall, the Waterways Travel sector experienced a concerning decline in payment performance in 2025, with its average score falling by 5.4 points to 64.0/100. While the overall trend was negative, PRINCESS YACHTS LIMITED stood out with a significant improvement, boosting its score by 10.3 points to reach 25.2/100. However, this positive outlier was overshadowed by substantial declines among several key players. THE MANCHESTER SHIP CANAL COMPANY LIMITED experienced the steepest drop, plummeting 13.8 points to 64.4/100. Other significant dips included TARMAC MARINE LIMITED, down 9.2 points to 43.4/100, and MSC CRUISE MANAGEMENT (UK) LIMITED, which fell 8.7 points to 47.5/100. Notably, several marine and shipping-related entities, including THE MERSEY DOCKS AND HARBOUR COMPANY LIMITED (-7.8 points to 62.4/100), contributed to this downturn, suggesting a broader challenge within parts of the sector. Suppliers in this industry should closely monitor payment terms, especially when dealing with companies showing recent declines in their scores.