Orca AI Launches Co-Captain, Enabling Vessels to Share Real-Time Data for Smarter Navigation
Orca AI, the autonomous maritime navigation platform, has introduced Co-Captain, a revolutionary function described as the world’s first ‘Waze of the Seas.’ This innovation allows vessels to share data with one another in real time, enabling crews to prepare proactively for emerging situations, identify hazards earlier, and navigate with greater assurance.
Global maritime safety incidents climbed by 42% from 2018 to 2024, with 3,310 shipping casualties or incidents recorded worldwide. By linking over 1,000 vessels equipped with Orca AI, and with hundreds more joining soon, Co-Captain transforms every ship into both a sensor and a source of situational awareness. Vessels exchange and receive verified real-time alerts, enriched with external information such as weather reports, vessel traffic updates, and local regulations.
“Since 90% of international trade relies on ocean transport, working together at sea is now essential, not just for safety, but also for environmental and security reasons,” noted Yarden Gross, CEO and Co-Founder of Orca AI. “We’re creating a dynamic ecosystem where each ship plays a crucial part in a chain that keeps crews informed and ahead of risks. Now that we’ve surpassed 1,000 participating vessels, this system could become the most reliable crowdsourced navigational tool in maritime history, helping ships better anticipate dangers and support each other.”
Every Orca AI-equipped ship serves as a hub in a trusted global network, constantly monitoring for high-risk targets, including those not using AIS, like fishing boats, small craft, or hazards such as nets. The system also alerts crews to events like severe weather, GNSS interference, or heavy traffic. These notifications are provided to vessels on converging routes, supporting timely decisions about speed, course, or watch shifts, thus improving crew safety and control. All data shared is fully anonymized, reporting only the location and observed conditions to ensure privacy.
Co-Captain provides precise, route-specific notifications tailored to each vessel’s operations, which include:
Congested waters:
Severe weather: Real-time warnings, including Beaufort Scale measurements and visibility details, giving crews ample time to prepare.
GNSS spoofing/jamming:
Piracy zones: Notifications before entering high-risk regions, encouraging activation of security procedures and heightened alertness.
Environmental compliance:
Navigational hazards: Reports of buoy movement, unmarked obstacles, ice, man-overboard situations, and pollution are shared between ships. Co-Captain also communicates crucial information about temporary closures or restrictions.
With a dataset exceeding 100 million nautical miles, Orca AI is building an unparalleled resource for advanced situational awareness. Each new data point enhances detection precision and predictive capabilities over time. “We’re developing a responsive, interconnected system,” Gross adds. “Each vessel forms an integral part of a safety network that helps crews stay connected and ahead of potential risks.”
Founded in 2018 by naval veterans Gross and Dor Raviv, Orca AI has raised $111 million to date. The company creates AI and computer vision tools for improved decision-making at sea, especially in low-visibility conditions, helping shipping companies boost fleet efficiency. Orca AI employs around 120 staff, mostly in Israel, with others in London and global offices.