For generations, the name A.R. Savage Company has been synonymous with Tampa Bay’s maritime heritage — a living connection between the city’s seafaring past and its global future. This year, the family-run business celebrates 80 years of continuous family ownership and operation, marking the milestone with new international partnerships that promise to carry Tampa’s shipping legacy into a new era.
Founded after World War II by Arthur Russell Savage, the company began humbly as a ship agency before expanding into ocean freight forwarding. But its roots in maritime commerce go back even further — long before Tampa was a bustling port city. When Arthur’s son, Bill Savage, married Shirley McKay, the union tied the family to one of Tampa’s earliest shipping dynasties. Shirley’s ancestor, Captain James McKay Sr., proved in the 1840s that commercial shipping could thrive in Tampa Bay, famously exporting Florida cattle to Cuba.
Today, A.R. Savage & Son, the company’s operating arm, plays a critical role in nearly every aspect of ocean freight movement through the Port of Tampa and beyond — from logistics and compliance to berthing, fueling, customs, warehousing, and crew care.
“Through the years of service at our company, we have maintained a steadfast devotion to our people and to quality service for our clients, and that has been the key to our long-term success,” said Arthur Savage, president and CEO. “What’s even more gratifying is that we are bringing in a fourth generation into the business with my son Billy.”
That next generation is already helping steer the company toward new horizons. In 2024, the Chilean-based shipping firm Agunsa USA invested in A.R. Savage’s operating companies — a move that’s expanding the Tampa-based firm’s global footprint to ports throughout Central and South America, Asia, and Europe.
“These are thrilling times,” said William “Billy” Savage, who joined the company in 2021 after serving in the U.S. Army. “New methods and new technologies are dramatically improving the shipping industry. Meanwhile, we expect our focus on service will be key in helping our clients navigate shifts around the world in how commerce is completed over our next 80 years and beyond.”
To commemorate the milestone, A.R. Savage Company hosted a celebration on Wednesday, Nov. 12, at the University Club of Tampa, bringing together clients, partners, and friends. Guests received a special edition booklet chronicling the family’s deep history in Tampa Bay and the company’s enduring role in shaping the region’s maritime identity.
For Tampa — a city built on the water and powered by commerce — the story of A.R. Savage Company is more than a family success story. It’s a reminder that the same entrepreneurial spirit that once launched ships from the bay is still driving local businesses to new frontiers today.
