The maritime industry is taking a significant step toward total voyage automation today as Orca AI and Samsung Heavy Industries (SHI) announce the commercial release of “BerthView.” This new technology bridges the critical gap between open-water navigation and terminal arrival, providing an end-to-end artificial intelligence layer that offers unprecedented situational awareness for ship bridge crews.
The launch marks a transition from the research and development phase established in April 2026 into a tangible, scalable solution for global shipowners. By integrating Orca AI’s SeaPod digital watchkeeper with SHI’s SVISION berthing technology, the companies have created a unified interface that supports vessels from the open sea all the way to the final seconds of docking.
## A Unified AI Framework for Every Phase of Transit
Navigating a modern cargo ship requires constant vigilance, but the requirements shift dramatically as a vessel nears port. In the open ocean, the primary challenge is identifying distant navigational hazards and managing route efficiency. However, as a ship enters congested coastal waters and prepares to berth, the bridge team must contend with narrow channels, proximity to quay walls, and the high-stakes pressure of low-speed maneuvering.
BerthView addresses these challenges by acting as a high-tech “second pair of eyes.” Using an array of fisheye cameras mounted on bridge wings, the system generates a seamless 360-degree, bird’s-eye perspective. This visualization is bolstered by dynamic safety boundaries and distance markers, which help crews judge clearances in real-time. By synthesizing these inputs, the system reduces the cognitive load on personnel, providing a clear visual buffer in environments where even a few meters of miscalculation could lead to costly accidents.
## Data-Driven Safety and Fleet Management
Beyond the immediate assistance provided to the bridge team, BerthView integrates deeply with Orca AI’s cloud-based platform, FleetView. This connectivity allows vessel data to be transmitted back to shore-based operations centers. By logging navigational events—such as docking approaches or close-quarters maneuvers—operators can generate detailed incident reports, support insurance claims, and create structured training modules based on actual real-world performance.
This feedback loop is crucial for modern fleet management. Instead of relying on manual logs, companies can now leverage automated insights to identify recurring risks and streamline crew training programs, ensuring that safety standards remain consistent across an entire fleet regardless of the individual experience of the crew on board.
## Retrofitting the Future of Autonomous Shipping
A major hurdle in adopting autonomous technology has been the assumption that such systems are only viable for newly constructed “smart ships.” Orca AI and SHI are shifting this narrative by making BerthView available for retrofitting on vessels already currently in service. This strategy effectively opens up the existing global maritime market to advanced navigation capabilities without requiring owners to wait for the lengthy construction cycles of new vessels.
Yarden Gross, CEO and co-founder of Orca AI, noted that the collaboration is about delivering immediate operational value while building a foundation for the future of fully autonomous shipping. “By enabling BerthView as a retrofit, we provide a powerful route to bring these capabilities to the global market at scale,” Gross stated.
The partnership also reinforces the role of Samsung Heavy Industries’ broader autonomous portfolio, including its Samsung Autonomous System (SAS), which handles route optimization and speed control. By aligning these sophisticated AI modules into one intelligent ecosystem, the collaboration is setting a new technical benchmark. As shipowners look to leverage AI to reduce human error and increase fuel efficiency, the integration of these technologies—from berth to berth—is likely to become the new standard for the maritime tech industry.
Disclaimer: This content is auto-generated for informational purposes only.
Source: Read Original News
