Orca AI’s Co-Captain Revolutionizes Ship Navigation
▼ Summary
– A new system called Co-Captain provides ocean vessels with real-time sea condition data and tailored navigational guidance to improve safety.
– Maritime incidents have increased by 22% in recent years, primarily due to aging vessels and equipment failures.
– Co-Captain collects and analyzes sensor data from ships to monitor onboard conditions and environmental hazards, sharing anonymized insights across the network.
– The system acts as an advanced version of AIS by offering proactive alerts and recommendations based on vessel-specific characteristics like size and design.
– Orca AI’s platform is currently used on over 1,200 vessels and aims to integrate with more bridge systems for centralized safety notifications.
A new onboard system is transforming how large ships navigate the world’s oceans by enabling real-time sharing of sea condition data, providing early warnings and actionable guidance to enhance maritime safety. This technology analyzes navigation patterns, vessel behavior, and environmental factors to deliver timely insights directly to ship crews, helping them make informed decisions while at sea.
Although the number of serious casualties from ship collisions and groundings has decreased, overall maritime incidents have climbed by 22 percent in recent years. This troubling increase is largely attributed to aging fleets and recurring equipment malfunctions.
In response, Orca AI, a London-based developer of autonomous maritime navigation systems, has launched a new software feature named Co-Captain. Designed to reduce the frequency of such incidents, Co-Captain integrates with the company’s existing SeaPod platform, a real-time decision support tool used by bridge officers during voyages.
Co-Captain delivers critical updates on severe weather and other hazards, along with personalized recommendations tailored to each vessel’s size and structural design. Yarden Gross, CEO and co-founder of Orca AI, likens the system to a familiar driving aid: “Co-Captain functions as a network where vessels using Orca capture and share real-time events worldwide. It’s similar to the navigation app in your car, alerting you to traffic or obstructions ahead so you can adjust your route proactively.”
According to Gross, Co-Captain continuously gathers information from onboard sensors and transmits it to the cloud, where it is processed to improve both performance and safety for the global shipping fleet.
Orca AI was established in 2018 by Gross and CTO Dor Raviv. The company initially introduced SeaPod and Fleet View, two complementary systems. SeaPod collects and interprets data from individual ships, while Fleet View aggregates this information in the cloud, offering fleet managers ashore a comprehensive overview of operations.
Co-Captain builds on this foundation by delivering proactive insights aimed at boosting fleet-wide safety and efficiency. Currently, ship officers depend on tools such as radar, the Automatic Identification System (AIS), and the Electronic Chart Display and Information System (ECDIS) to monitor nearby vessels and prevent collisions. However, many of these tasks still require manual input.
Co-Captain automatically identifies a range of navigational risks and allows crew members to manually tag obstacles or other concerns. Gross describes the system as an evolution beyond AIS, which transmits basic vessel details, like name, position, and heading, via VHF radio signals. In contrast, Co-Captain also monitors real-time onboard conditions. For instance, if one ship reports a 3-degree pitch and 5-degree roll in heavy seas, Co-Captain uses that data to predict how those conditions will affect nearby vessels, accounting for differences in their size and hull design. It then sends customized advice to each of those ships.
“Every vessel becomes a node in a broader network, with its own AI platform gathering live data from multiple sensors,” Gross explains. Using cameras and computer vision, the AI detects challenges such as poor visibility, high waves, or strong winds. The platform then analyzes this information to generate specific guidance.
All shared data is anonymized to protect vessel identity. Gross notes that details like a ship’s route, speed, or timing could reveal sensitive operational information. “By anonymizing the data, Co-Captain distributes vital safety alerts, such as GPS interference, severe weather, or congested waterways, without disclosing which vessel reported it or its exact location.”
Orca AI is currently working to integrate Co-Captain with additional bridge systems, including Navigational Telex (NAVTEX) and ECDIS, so that important alerts and updates are centralized for bridge teams.
The company’s long-term vision is to deliver real-time notifications focused on the most critical events along a vessel’s route, empowering captains to take swift, well-informed action. This approach supports safer and more efficient maritime operations. Already, the platform has been deployed across more than 1,200 vessels worldwide.
(Source: Spectrum IEEE)