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Maritime · head to head

Harbour Assist vs Orca AI

Harbour Assist logo

Harbour Assist

Maritime

Marina, harbour and boatyard management software for United Kingdom and European operators

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: Harbour Assist no pricing is published, and the mandatory setup and data migration fee means the first-year cost is materially above the recurring subscription, which is easy to miss when budgeting.; 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: Harbour Assist covers Berth and mooring management, 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 Harbour Assist and Orca AI actually diverge.

Attributes where Harbour Assist and Orca AI differ
AttributeHarbour AssistOrca AI
Starting priceOn request$2000/month
Pricing modelquotesubscription
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 Harbour Assist

  • Berth and mooring management
  • Contracts and licences
  • Recurring invoicing
  • Customer portal
  • Boatyard work orders
  • Team tasking
  • Online reservations
  • Reporting

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.

Harbour Assist

  • A trust port managing several hundred moorings with annual licence renewals and arrears chasingnot Orca AI
  • A sailing club combining membership, berthing and bar accounts under one customer recordnot Orca AI
  • A boatyard scheduling lifts and winter storage alongside berth contractsnot Orca AI
  • A harbour office cutting phone traffic by moving invoice payment and service requests to a customer portalnot Orca AI

Orca AI

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

Where each one falls short

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

Harbour Assist

  • No pricing is published, and the mandatory setup and data migration fee means the first-year cost is materially above the recurring subscription, which is easy to miss when budgeting.
  • The vendor explicitly does not discount, so a small harbour has no negotiating room even when the entry point is a stretch for its budget.
  • Ownership by ClearCourse, a private-equity-backed consolidator of vertical software, brings the pricing and roadmap risks that come with that model, and buyers should ask about uplift terms before committing.
  • It is built for United Kingdom and Irish harbour practice, so an operator elsewhere gets a system full of concepts that do not match local regulation.
  • There is no marketplace or booking demand attached, so unlike Dockwa it fills no berths for you; visitor income still depends on your own marketing.

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

Harbour Assist

On request
  • Harbour Assist$undefined/month
    • Quoted by size and complexity of the operation
    • Directory listings place the entry point near GBP 400 per month
    • Mandatory setup and installation fee covering customisation, data migration and training

Orca AI

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

Which should you pick?

Choose Harbour Assist if

  • You need berth and mooring management.
  • You work on Web, iOS, Android.
  • You also want contracts and licences.
Harbour Assist 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 Harbour Assist or Orca AI better?
Neither clearly leads. Harbour Assist 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, Harbour Assist or Orca AI?
Harbour Assist starts at On request and Orca AI at $2000/month.
Does Harbour Assist or Orca AI run on more platforms?
Harbour Assist runs on Web, iOS, Android. Orca AI runs on Web, Maritime Hardware.
What is Harbour Assist best used for?
Harbour Assist is most often used for a trust port managing several hundred moorings with annual licence renewals and arrears chasing, a sailing club combining membership, berthing and bar accounts under one customer record, a boatyard scheduling lifts and winter storage alongside berth contracts, a harbour office cutting phone traffic by moving invoice payment and service requests to a customer portal. Of those, a trust port managing several hundred moorings with annual licence renewals and arrears chasing and a sailing club combining membership, berthing and bar accounts under one customer record are not what Orca AI is typically brought in for.
What can Harbour Assist do that Orca AI cannot?
Harbour Assist covers Berth and mooring management, Contracts and licences, Recurring invoicing, Customer portal. Orca AI covers Computer vision detection, Navigation assistance, Collision avoidance, Situational awareness.

Answered from the vendors’ own pages

Harbour Assist: How much does Harbour Assist cost?

It is quoted by size and complexity. Directory listings put the entry point near 400 pounds a month, and every client also pays a setup fee for customisation, migration and training.

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
Harbour Assist: Does it bring visitor bookings?

No. It takes online visitor reservations through your own website but has no consumer marketplace, so demand generation remains your responsibility.

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
Harbour Assist: Who owns it?

ClearCourse, a private-equity-backed group that acquires vertical software businesses in the United Kingdom.

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
Harbour Assist: Does it handle swinging moorings and drying berths?

Yes, and that is one of the reasons British harbours choose it over marina software designed around American pontoon dockage.

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