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Maritime · head to head

DNV Navigator Port vs Windward

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
Windward logo

Windward

Maritime

AI-powered maritime risk intelligence

From
$3000/month
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.; Windward requires embedded expert analysts for actionable intelligence; cannot operate fully autonomously
  • They diverge on capability: DNV Navigator Port covers Port clearance packs, Windward covers AI-powered risk scoring.
  • Prices and features above were last checked on 1 September 2026.

Where they differ

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

Attributes where DNV Navigator Port and Windward differ
AttributeDNV Navigator PortWindward
Starting priceOn request$3000/month
Pricing modelquotesubscription
PlatformsWindows, WebWeb, Api
FoundedUnknown1996

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 Windward

  • AI-powered risk scoring
  • Sanctions compliance
  • Ship-to-ship detection
  • Dark activity alerts
  • Compliance systems
  • Trading platforms
  • Banking systems
  • 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 Windward
  • A ship manager standardising port formalities across a mixed fleet and multiple crewing agenciesnot Windward
  • An operator that must evidence MLC work and rest compliance to a port state control inspector on demandnot Windward
  • A cruise line calling at many ports per voyage where the paperwork volume exceeds what a bridge team can maintain manuallynot Windward

Windward

  • Detecting vessel spoofing using multi-sensor AIS, dark vessel signals, and satellite datanot DNV Navigator Port
  • Conducting UN sanctions investigations for North Korea maritime compliancenot DNV Navigator Port
  • Performing financial AML and sanctions screening for maritime transactionsnot DNV Navigator Port
  • Identifying drug smuggling routes in international shipping networksnot DNV Navigator Port
  • Tracking port delays and causes in real-time shipping visibilitynot 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.

Windward

  • Requires embedded expert analysts for actionable intelligence; cannot operate fully autonomously
  • Platform focuses on specific maritime regions (Strait of Hormuz, Somali piracy zones); may not provide equally robust global coverage
  • Classified as unclassified and shareable, limiting penetration into highly classified defense operations
  • API-dependent architecture (GraphQL-based) may create integration complexity for some organizations
  • Multi-source data integration can be resource-intensive for organizations lacking dedicated intelligence staff

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

Windward

$3000/month
  • Professional$7500/month
    • Behavioral analytics
    • Dark activity detection
    • API access

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 Windward if

  • You need ai-powered risk scoring.
  • You work on Web, Api.
  • You also want sanctions compliance.
Windward review

Questions people ask

Is DNV Navigator Port or Windward better?
Neither clearly leads. DNV Navigator Port starts at On request and Windward at $3000/month, and user ratings are close enough to be indistinguishable. Choose on capability and platform support.
Which is cheaper, DNV Navigator Port or Windward?
DNV Navigator Port starts at On request and Windward at $3000/month.
Does DNV Navigator Port or Windward run on more platforms?
DNV Navigator Port runs on Windows, Web. Windward runs on Web, Api.
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 Windward is typically brought in for.
What can DNV Navigator Port do that Windward cannot?
DNV Navigator Port covers Port clearance packs, Weekly content updates, ALRS Volume 6, Work and rest hours. Windward covers AI-powered risk scoring, Sanctions compliance, Ship-to-ship detection, Dark activity alerts.

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.

Windward: Does Windward provide autonomous intelligence or does it require human analysts?

Windward requires expert analysts to embed directly in your mission to deliver intelligence-ready products. The platform supports analyst workflows but cannot operate fully autonomously.

Source
DNV Navigator Port: Does it work without internet?

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

Windward: What data sources does Windward use beyond AIS?

Windward integrates multiple data sources including AIS, dark vessel signals, Earth Observation (EO), Synthetic Aperture Radar (SAR), and RF signals to provide multi-sensor maritime intelligence where AIS alone is insufficient.

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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