Autonomous navigation technology across the maritime industry is enjoying significant momentum, with market value estimates set to surpass eleven billion dollars by 2028. Companies at the forefront are quickly gaining ground as demand for AI-guided vessels intensifies. Orca AI has recently captured attention after closing a seventy two point five million dollar Series B funding round led by Brighton Park Capital, bringing its total funding to over one hundred eleven million dollars. Previous backers Ankona Capital and Hyperlink Ventures also joined the latest investment. The London headquartered firm was founded in 2018 and leverages artificial intelligence for navigation, utilizing a proprietary dataset encompassing more than eighty million nautical miles. Their system enhances decision making for ships, dramatically cutting collision risk and freeing up crews to oversee other mission critical tasks.
Defense Sector Sparks New Momentum
While commercial partnerships remain Orca AI’s foundation, an increasing number of defense organizations have taken interest in autonomous operations. CEO Yarden Gross indicated that global navies are pursuing assets that are both affordable and reduce the need for onboard personnel, highlighting that autonomous ship navigation has already secured its initial naval contract. These strategic moves are complemented by advances in satellite connectivity, particularly with the wider adoption of Starlink. This technology enables ships to transmit vast quantities of real time navigational data back to Orca AI’s platform, improving mapping, traffic monitoring, and the sharing of urgent updates.
Recent analysis from 2024 around the company’s alert system demonstrated important results, with a fifty four percent reduction in near miss events and an average annual fuel cost saving of one hundred thousand dollars per vessel. Beyond Orca AI, the wider sector is seeing active competition from other innovators like Avikus, part of Hyundai HD, and Sea Machines, each contributing to the rapidly evolving world of autonomous marine transport.
