Orca AI, a leading provider of AI-driven vessel situational awareness platforms, has entered a strategic partnership with South Korean shipbuilding giant Samsung Heavy Industries (SHI) aimed at accelerating the deployment of autonomous vessel technology across both newbuilds and existing fleets.
Under the agreement, SHI will integrate Orca AI's situational awareness platform into vessels equipped with its Samsung Autonomous Ship (SAS) system, while Orca AI will incorporate SHI technologies such as its SVISION berthing assistance and autonomous speed control systems into its own platform. The companies plan to jointly develop integrated autonomous navigation, berthing and speed-optimisation packages covering retrofit projects as well as new construction.
Orca AI CEO Yarden Gross said: "Bringing together SHI's deep expertise in vessel design and integration with our AI-driven situational awareness platform creates a practical path to scaling autonomous capability across fleet segments." The company also said the partnership will provide evidence data to standardise approval processes with class societies and insurance stakeholders.
The deal is seen as an important step in South Korea's broader push to embed artificial intelligence and digital systems in next-generation vessels. With both new orders and fleet renewal accelerating, autonomous navigation technologies are expected to enter the market first as bridge-support systems, with autonomy levels then increased gradually.
Key Takeaways:
1. Orca AI and Samsung Heavy Industries have formed a strategic partnership to scale autonomous vessel technology.
2. Samsung Heavy will integrate Orca AI's situational awareness platform into vessels equipped with the Samsung Autonomous Ship (SAS) system.
3. Orca AI will incorporate Samsung Heavy's SVISION berthing assistance and autonomous speed control systems into its platform.
4. The companies will jointly develop integrated autonomous navigation packages covering retrofit and newbuild projects.
5. The deal is seen as an important step in South Korea's drive to embed AI in next-generation vessels.
