Orca AI Bags $72.5 Million Fund To Advance AI-Powered Maritime Navigation

Orca AI, a maritime tech startup founded in Israel, has raised $72.5 million in Series B funding for its artificial intelligence platform and plans to expand into new areas like defense and maritime security. It brings the company’s total capital raised to $111 million.

The funding round was led by growth equity firm Brighton Park Capital, with continued support from Ankona Capital and Hyperlink Ventures.

Earlier investors OCV Partners and Mizmaa Ventures also played a role in the company’s previous funding stages.

Orca AI, founded in 2018 by former Israeli Navy officers Yarden Gross and Dor Raviv, is focused on bringing artificial intelligence to the traditionally conservative shipping industry.

The company has developed a platform that enhances ship navigation using computer vision and machine learning. So far, it has been installed on over 1,200 commercial vessels.

Orca AI’s system is powered by a vast visual database, said to be the largest in the maritime industry. The database covers more than 80 million nautical miles of footage, gathered from cameras and sensors installed on ships.

This data is connected to the cloud in real-time, allowing the system to continuously learn and help crews make safer, faster decisions at sea.

The company explained that its AI-based tool detects risks that are often missed by human eyes, suggests avoidance routes, and improves decision-making while at sea.

Ships using Orca AI’s system saw a 54% drop in close encounter incidents, where vessels come dangerously close to each other.

Orca AI also highlighted the economic and environmental benefits of its technology. Ships saved an average of $100,000 in fuel costs per year and helped avoid 195,000 tons of carbon dioxide emissions in 2024 alone by optimising routes and fuel use.

The startup has gained trust from several major players in global shipping, including MSC, NYK, Scorpio, and Seaspan. Its platform is increasingly viewed as an essential layer for vessels operating in high-traffic areas.

In 2022, Orca AI partnered with The Nippon Foundation and DFFAS (Designing the Future of Full Autonomous Ships) to complete what it described as the world’s first commercial autonomous voyage.

Traditionally, ships relied on slow satellite connections, limiting real-time data exchange. But with new services like Starlink offering faster and more reliable internet, ships can now send and receive data from remote oceans, making AI-supported navigation more effective.

Orca AI, already well-known in commercial shipping, is now shifting focus toward defense and security. Although specific plans haven’t been disclosed, its AI and navigation systems have potential for military or dual-use maritime applications.

With both founders being former naval officers, the company is already collaborating with the Israeli Navy.

Reference: calcalistech

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