Maritime · head to head
DNV Navigator Port vs MDS Transmodal
DNV Navigator Port
Maritime
Port clearance and ship-to-shore reporting software that assembles the documents a vessel needs before arrival
- From
- On request
- Rated
- -
The short version
- Each has a real cost: DNV Navigator Port nothing is published about pricing and licensing is per vessel through DNV sales, so a fleet cannot estimate cost without a commercial conversation.; MDS Transmodal no pricing published on website, consulting-based engagement only
- They diverge on capability: DNV Navigator Port covers Port clearance packs, MDS Transmodal covers Container trade data.
- Prices and features above were last checked on 1 September 2026.
Where they differ
Only the attributes on which DNV Navigator Port and MDS Transmodal actually diverge.
| Attribute | DNV Navigator Port | MDS Transmodal |
|---|---|---|
| Starting price | On request | $600/month |
| Pricing model | quote | subscription |
| Platforms | Windows, Web | Web |
| Founded | Unknown | 1988 |
Identical on both: free tier (No), user rating (Not yet rated), category (Maritime).
What each one covers
Drawn from each product's published feature list. An absence here means we hold no record of it - not that the product lacks it.
Only in DNV Navigator Port
- Port clearance packs
- Weekly content updates
- ALRS Volume 6
- Work and rest hours
- Crew certificates
- Offline operation
- Shore visibility
- Third-party integration
Only in MDS Transmodal
- Container trade data
- Port statistics
- Intermodal analysis
- Custom research
- Data exports
- Custom reports
- Web support
What people use each for
The jobs each tool is most often brought in to do.
DNV Navigator Port
- A tanker operator whose vessels call at ports where a rejected declaration means a berth is lost and demurrage startsnot MDS Transmodal
- A ship manager standardising port formalities across a mixed fleet and multiple crewing agenciesnot MDS Transmodal
- An operator that must evidence MLC work and rest compliance to a port state control inspector on demandnot MDS Transmodal
- A cruise line calling at many ports per voyage where the paperwork volume exceeds what a bridge team can maintain manuallynot MDS Transmodal
MDS Transmodal
- Transport market feasibility studies and demand forecasting for new opportunitiesnot DNV Navigator Port
- Infrastructure planning and transport network capacity analysisnot DNV Navigator Port
- Due diligence and risk assessment for freight investment decisionsnot DNV Navigator Port
- Freight sector policy analysis and regulatory impact evaluationnot DNV Navigator Port
- Quantitative modeling across maritime, rail, road, and logisticsnot DNV Navigator Port
Where each one falls short
Documented limitations, not opinions. Every one is a constraint you would hit in normal use.
DNV Navigator Port
- Nothing is published about pricing and licensing is per vessel through DNV sales, so a fleet cannot estimate cost without a commercial conversation.
- It is a point solution covering clearance and crew hours only, so it adds another shipboard system to install, update and train crews on rather than consolidating existing ones.
- The onboard component is a Windows installation that needs periodic updating on each vessel, and update discipline across a fleet with rotating crews is a genuine operational burden.
- Content coverage is deepest for major commercial ports; operators calling at small or remote terminals will still assemble some documentation manually and pay for a dataset that does not cover their edge cases.
- DNV is a classification society selling software to the same operators it classes, which some owners view as a conflict when choosing systems that generate compliance evidence.
MDS Transmodal
- No pricing published on website, consulting-based engagement only
- Requires direct contact and negotiation for each project engagement
- Results and services dependent on consultant experience and proprietary databases
- Not a self-service platform, requires human expertise and custom analysis
Pricing, plan by plan
DNV Navigator Port
On request- Navigator Port$undefined/year
- Licensed per vessel with fleet agreements available
- Weekly content updates and 24/7 support included
- Onboard installation plus shore-side access
MDS Transmodal
$600/month- Data Access$1200/month
- Container data
- Port statistics
- Trade flows
Which should you pick?
Choose DNV Navigator Port if
- You need port clearance packs.
- You work on Windows, Web.
- You also want weekly content updates.
Choose MDS Transmodal if
- You need container trade data.
- You also want port statistics.
Questions people ask
- Is DNV Navigator Port or MDS Transmodal better?
- Neither clearly leads. DNV Navigator Port starts at On request and MDS Transmodal at $600/month, and user ratings are close enough to be indistinguishable. Choose on capability and platform support.
- Which is cheaper, DNV Navigator Port or MDS Transmodal?
- DNV Navigator Port starts at On request and MDS Transmodal at $600/month.
- Does DNV Navigator Port or MDS Transmodal run on more platforms?
- DNV Navigator Port runs on Windows, Web. MDS Transmodal runs on Web.
- What is DNV Navigator Port best used for?
- DNV Navigator Port is most often used for a tanker operator whose vessels call at ports where a rejected declaration means a berth is lost and demurrage starts, a ship manager standardising port formalities across a mixed fleet and multiple crewing agencies, an operator that must evidence mlc work and rest compliance to a port state control inspector on demand, a cruise line calling at many ports per voyage where the paperwork volume exceeds what a bridge team can maintain manually. Of those, a tanker operator whose vessels call at ports where a rejected declaration means a berth is lost and demurrage starts and a ship manager standardising port formalities across a mixed fleet and multiple crewing agencies are not what MDS Transmodal is typically brought in for.
- What can DNV Navigator Port do that MDS Transmodal cannot?
- DNV Navigator Port covers Port clearance packs, Weekly content updates, ALRS Volume 6, Work and rest hours. MDS Transmodal covers Container trade data, Port statistics, Intermodal analysis, Custom research.
Answered from the vendors’ own pages
DNV Navigator Port: How often is port information updated?
Weekly to the onboard installation, which is the main thing the subscription buys.
MDS Transmodal: How much does MDS Transmodal cost?
MDS Transmodal does not publish pricing on its website. It is a consulting firm providing bespoke strategic advice. Pricing is quote-based and depends on project scope, duration, data requirements, and consultant time allocation. Contact them directly to discuss your specific transport economics needs.
SourceDNV Navigator Port: Does it work without internet?
Yes. The onboard component is built to operate through satellite connectivity loss.
MDS Transmodal: Does MDS Transmodal offer a software platform or only consulting?
MDS Transmodal is primarily a transport economics consulting firm, not a software vendor. They provide strategic consulting, quantitative analysis, and modeling services. While they maintain proprietary databases and models, they do not offer a self-service software platform.
SourceDNV Navigator Port: Does it cover work and rest hours?
Yes, it calculates against selected MLC and STCW regimes and warns on breaches.
MDS Transmodal: Does MDS Transmodal cover all transportation modes?
Yes. MDS Transmodal provides analysis and consulting across road, rail, air, and maritime freight sectors. Their expertise spans port connectivity, global shipping networks, trade corridor analysis, and multi-modal supply chain optimization for clients worldwide.
SourceDNV Navigator Port: Is pricing published?
No. It is licensed per vessel through DNV with fleet agreements negotiated.
Related pages
More on DNV Navigator Port
More on MDS Transmodal
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- MDS Transmodal vs Pole Star Global
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- MDS Transmodal vs ChartCo
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- MDS Transmodal vs Linerlytica
- MDS Transmodal vs Clarksons
- MDS Transmodal vs Flexport
- MDS Transmodal vs Terminal49
- MDS Transmodal vs CargoSmart
- MDS Transmodal vs Kaleris
- MDS Transmodal vs Kongsberg Vessel Insight