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Maritime · head to head

DNV Navigator Port vs Sea Machines

DNV Navigator Port logo

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
-
Full reviewWebsite
Sea Machines logo

Sea Machines

Maritime

Autonomous vessel control systems

From
$50000/one-time
Rated
-
Full reviewWebsite

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.; Sea Machines requires hardware fitted to the vessel; the autonomy systems are retrofits or new build installations rather than a software purchase
  • They diverge on capability: DNV Navigator Port covers Port clearance packs, Sea Machines covers Autonomous control.
  • Prices and features above were last checked on 1 September 2026.

Where they differ

Only the attributes on which DNV Navigator Port and Sea Machines actually diverge.

Attributes where DNV Navigator Port and Sea Machines differ
AttributeDNV Navigator PortSea Machines
Starting priceOn request$50000/one-time
Pricing modelquoteone-time
PlatformsWindows, WebEmbedded, Web, Mobile
FoundedUnknown2015

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 Sea Machines

  • Autonomous control
  • Remote operation
  • Collision avoidance
  • Pattern following
  • Vessel systems
  • Communication networks
  • Shore-based control
  • Embedded 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 Sea Machines
  • A ship manager standardising port formalities across a mixed fleet and multiple crewing agenciesnot Sea Machines
  • An operator that must evidence MLC work and rest compliance to a port state control inspector on demandnot Sea Machines
  • A cruise line calling at many ports per voyage where the paperwork volume exceeds what a bridge team can maintain manuallynot Sea Machines

Sea Machines

  • Intelligent voyage and transit autonomy for workboatsnot DNV Navigator Port
  • Pattern autonomy for survey and repetitive route worknot DNV Navigator Port
  • Collision avoidance using the AI-ris computer vision sensornot DNV Navigator Port
  • Remote command and control of vessels, including in GPS denied environmentsnot DNV Navigator Port
  • Fleet management and telemetry through Fleetviewer and the SMLINK APIsnot 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.

Sea Machines

  • Requires hardware fitted to the vessel; the autonomy systems are retrofits or new build installations rather than a software purchase
  • Targeted at vessels from 10 to 300 ft, so it does not address the largest commercial tonnage
  • Pricing is not published and is arranged directly with the vendor
  • The SM300-NG is the class-approved unit, so the cheaper SM300-SP does not carry the same approval

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

Sea Machines

$50000/one-time
  • SM300$75000/one-time
    • Autonomous control
    • Collision avoidance
    • Remote operation

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.
DNV Navigator Port review

Choose Sea Machines if

  • You need autonomous control.
  • You work on Embedded, Web, Mobile.
  • You also want remote operation.
Sea Machines review

Questions people ask

Is DNV Navigator Port or Sea Machines better?
Neither clearly leads. DNV Navigator Port starts at On request and Sea Machines at $50000/one-time, and user ratings are close enough to be indistinguishable. Choose on capability and platform support.
Which is cheaper, DNV Navigator Port or Sea Machines?
DNV Navigator Port starts at On request and Sea Machines at $50000/one-time.
Does DNV Navigator Port or Sea Machines run on more platforms?
DNV Navigator Port runs on Windows, Web. Sea Machines runs on Embedded, Web, Mobile.
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 Sea Machines is typically brought in for.
What can DNV Navigator Port do that Sea Machines cannot?
DNV Navigator Port covers Port clearance packs, Weekly content updates, ALRS Volume 6, Work and rest hours. Sea Machines covers Autonomous control, Remote operation, Collision avoidance, Pattern following.

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.

Sea Machines: How much does Sea Machines cost?

Pricing is not published. Sea Machines requires customers to contact their sales team directly through the Contact Us link on their website for pricing quotes tailored to specific products and use cases.

Source
DNV Navigator Port: Does it work without internet?

Yes. The onboard component is built to operate through satellite connectivity loss.

Sea Machines: What is the pricing model for Sea Machines products?

Sea Machines offers autonomy systems and software solutions for maritime vessels. Pricing is determined on a per-product basis through direct sales consultation rather than published subscription tiers.

Source
DNV Navigator Port: Does it cover work and rest hours?

Yes, it calculates against selected MLC and STCW regimes and warns on breaches.

DNV Navigator Port: Is pricing published?

No. It is licensed per vessel through DNV with fleet agreements negotiated.

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