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Maritime · head to head

Dockwa vs Orca AI

Dockwa logo

Dockwa

Maritime

Marina reservation, management and boater marketplace software

From
On request
Rated
-
Full reviewWebsite
Orca AI logo

Orca AI

Maritime

Computer vision for maritime safety

From
$2000/month
Rated
-
Full reviewWebsite

The short version

  • Each has a real cost: Dockwa the marina absorbs the transaction cost because Dockwa forbids charging boaters more for booking through the platform, so roughly three and a half per cent of dockage revenue comes off the marina margin.; Orca AI requires the SeaPod unit installed on the bridge, so it is a fitted system rather than software a fleet can simply subscribe to
  • They diverge on capability: Dockwa covers Transient reservations, Orca AI covers Computer vision detection.
  • Prices and features above were last checked on 31 August 2026.

Where they differ

Only the attributes on which Dockwa and Orca AI actually diverge.

Attributes where Dockwa and Orca AI differ
AttributeDockwaOrca AI
Starting priceOn request$2000/month
Pricing modelPer booking plus optional monthly modulessubscription
PlatformsWeb, iOS, AndroidWeb, Maritime Hardware
FoundedUnknown2018

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 Dockwa

  • Transient reservations
  • Seasonal contracts
  • Slip assignment
  • Boater marketplace
  • Integrated payments
  • Guest communication
  • Occupancy reporting
  • Revenue management module

Only in Orca AI

  • Computer vision detection
  • Navigation assistance
  • Collision avoidance
  • Situational awareness
  • Bridge systems
  • ECDIS
  • Radar systems
  • Embedded support

What people use each for

The jobs each tool is most often brought in to do.

Dockwa

  • A transient-heavy marina on a popular cruising route wanting booking demand as well as softwarenot Orca AI
  • A harbour replacing a paper ledger and phone-based reservation processnot Orca AI
  • A yacht club managing seasonal contracts and renewals alongside visitor dockagenot Orca AI
  • A marina group standardising slip assignment and occupancy reporting across sitesnot Orca AI

Orca AI

  • Automated lookout and marine target detection in congested or low visibility watersnot Dockwa
  • Bridge situational awareness and collision alertingnot Dockwa
  • Fleet-wide safety compliance monitoring through FleetViewnot Dockwa
  • Perception for autonomous and unmanned vesselsnot Dockwa
  • GPS spoofing detection and crew training reviewnot Dockwa

Where each one falls short

Documented limitations, not opinions. Every one is a constraint you would hit in normal use.

Dockwa

  • The marina absorbs the transaction cost because Dockwa forbids charging boaters more for booking through the platform, so roughly three and a half per cent of dockage revenue comes off the marina margin.
  • Pricing has shifted from purely transactional toward an annual software fee plus transaction costs, which changes the economics for marinas that signed on the original basis.
  • The revenue management and premium capability sits behind an extra monthly subscription of a few hundred dollars, so the useful version of the product is not the entry-level one.
  • Demand is heavily concentrated in North American cruising corridors; a marina elsewhere pays marketplace economics for software-only benefit.
  • A marina that comes to rely on Dockwa for occupancy has handed its customer relationship and its booking channel to a third party, which is a real strategic dependency in a fragmented industry.

Orca AI

  • Requires the SeaPod unit installed on the bridge, so it is a fitted system rather than software a fleet can simply subscribe to
  • Aimed at commercial fleets, defence and insurers rather than individual vessel owners
  • Pricing is not published and is arranged through the vendor

Pricing, plan by plan

Dockwa

On request
  • Booking$undefined/month
    • Around 2.5% card processing plus roughly 1% service fee on platform bookings
    • Reservation management and slip assignment
    • Boater marketplace exposure
  • Premium modules$299/month
    • Additional monthly subscription on top of transaction fees
    • Revenue management and dynamic dockage pricing
    • Extended reporting

Orca AI

$2000/month
  • Fleet$5000/month
    • AI navigation assistance
    • Object detection
    • Fleet analytics

Which should you pick?

Choose Dockwa if

  • You need transient reservations.
  • You work on Web, iOS, Android.
  • You also want seasonal contracts.
Dockwa review

Choose Orca AI if

  • You need computer vision detection.
  • You work on Web, Maritime Hardware.
  • You also want navigation assistance.
Orca AI review

Questions people ask

Is Dockwa or Orca AI better?
Neither clearly leads. Dockwa starts at On request and Orca AI at $2000/month, and user ratings are close enough to be indistinguishable. Choose on capability and platform support.
Which is cheaper, Dockwa or Orca AI?
Dockwa starts at On request and Orca AI at $2000/month.
Does Dockwa or Orca AI run on more platforms?
Dockwa runs on Web, iOS, Android. Orca AI runs on Web, Maritime Hardware.
What is Dockwa best used for?
Dockwa is most often used for a transient-heavy marina on a popular cruising route wanting booking demand as well as software, a harbour replacing a paper ledger and phone-based reservation process, a yacht club managing seasonal contracts and renewals alongside visitor dockage, a marina group standardising slip assignment and occupancy reporting across sites. Of those, a transient-heavy marina on a popular cruising route wanting booking demand as well as software and a harbour replacing a paper ledger and phone-based reservation process are not what Orca AI is typically brought in for.
What can Dockwa do that Orca AI cannot?
Dockwa covers Transient reservations, Seasonal contracts, Slip assignment, Boater marketplace. Orca AI covers Computer vision detection, Navigation assistance, Collision avoidance, Situational awareness.

Answered from the vendors’ own pages

Dockwa: What does Dockwa cost a marina?

Around 2.5 per cent card processing plus roughly 1 per cent service fee on bookings taken through the platform, with premium modules such as revenue management sold as an additional monthly subscription near 299 dollars.

Orca AI: What are Orca AI's core capabilities?

Orca AI uses AI-based sensor fusion and computer vision for autonomous maritime navigation. It provides situational awareness for ship navigation, detection of vessels and hazards, and real-time decision support for crew in congested waters and low visibility conditions.

Source
Dockwa: Does the boater pay a fee?

No. Dockwa requires that boaters pay the same rate through the app as they would by calling the marina, so the cost sits with the marina.

Orca AI: Has Orca AI powered any commercial autonomous voyages?

Yes, Orca AI powered the world's first commercial autonomous voyage in 2022, demonstrating the viability of autonomous shipping technology at commercial scale.

Source
Dockwa: Is it worth it outside the north east and Florida?

Less so. The software works anywhere but the demand side is concentrated, so marinas in thinner markets pay marketplace pricing for management software.

Orca AI: What is Orca AI's safety record?

Orca AI's alert system has led to a 54% decrease in close encounter incidents, contributing to enhanced voyage safety and reduced accelerations during voyages.

Source
Dockwa: Can it handle seasonal contracts as well as transients?

Yes, both seasonal slip agreements and nightly transient dockage are managed in the same system.

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