Maritime technology pioneer Orca launched Co-Captain, an AI-powered collaborative navigation system, the company said in a statement on Thursday.
This AI system, the first of its kind to enable real-time data sharing between connected vessels, allows them to be better prepared for real-time events and emerging risks, anticipate hazards early to take pre-emptive measures, and navigate the seas with more confidence.
Each Orca AI-equipped vessel becomes a node in a trusted global network—enabling it to send and receive real-time data. This growing network currently involves about 1,000 Orca AI-installed vessels, with hundreds more set to join.
This is constantly uploaded to the cloud, where it is processed by Orca AI’s advanced computer-vision technology, and blended to form a dynamic real-time picture of each connected vessel's status.
The feeds from vessels are also enriched with external data such as weather, vessel traffic details, and local regulatory feeds.
Co-Captain's notifications—said to be tailored to the needs of each and every vessel it was notifying—include information on maritime traffic density, satellite signal interference, piracy zones and other high-risk areas, environmental compliance, and obstacles at sea.
"Given that 90 per cent of world trade goes by sea, this kind of collaborative navigation is no longer optional—it’s a safety, environmental and security imperative,” said Yarden Gross, CEO and Co-Founder of Orca AI, in a statement.
The AI ecosystem is ultimately expected to reduce potential costly delays, optimise fuel consumption by means of better route adjustments, and minimise incident-related downtime.
“This could very well be the most accurate crowdsourced navigational engine in shipping,” he added.