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Maritime · head to head

Kaleris vs Sea Machines

Kaleris logo

Kaleris

Maritime

Terminal operating, yard, rail and vessel software assembled from acquired supply chain brands

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: Kaleris the portfolio was assembled by acquisition, so the single platform description is commercial rather than technical, and connecting two Kaleris products often requires professional services and a custom interface.; 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: Kaleris covers Terminal operating system, Sea Machines covers Autonomous control.
  • Prices and features above were last checked on 30 August 2026.

Where they differ

Only the attributes on which Kaleris and Sea Machines actually diverge.

Attributes where Kaleris and Sea Machines differ
AttributeKalerisSea Machines
Starting priceOn request$50000/one-time
Pricing modelquoteone-time
PlatformsWeb, On-premise, Private cloudEmbedded, 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 Kaleris

  • Terminal operating system
  • Yard management
  • Transportation management
  • Carrier and vessel solutions
  • Rail visibility
  • Maintenance and repair operations
  • Execution and visibility platform
  • Equipment control 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.

Kaleris

  • A container terminal replacing a legacy or in-house terminal operating system before an automation programmenot Sea Machines
  • A port authority standardising several terminals on one operating system and reporting layernot Sea Machines
  • An ocean carrier that needs stowage planning and vessel performance tooling alongside terminal systemsnot Sea Machines
  • A rail or intermodal operator trying to reduce demurrage exposure with asset level visibilitynot Sea Machines

Sea Machines

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

Where each one falls short

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

Kaleris

  • The portfolio was assembled by acquisition, so the single platform description is commercial rather than technical, and connecting two Kaleris products often requires professional services and a custom interface.
  • A terminal operating system implementation runs 12 to 24 months with parallel operation, and the software licence is a minor line next to integration, equipment interfaces and retraining crane and gate staff.
  • Private equity ownership means the roadmap is shaped by acquisition strategy and an eventual exit, and a terminal signing a decade-long dependency has no visibility of who the next owner will be.
  • Configuration expertise is concentrated in the vendor and a small consultancy pool, so terminals end up buying vendor services for changes an internal team should be able to make.
  • The strength is container handling, and bulk, breakbulk and ro-ro terminals get a thinner functional fit that has to be closed with configuration and workarounds.

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

Kaleris

On request
  • Kaleris platform$undefined/year
    • Quoted per site, by throughput and modules taken
    • Implementation and integration services are the larger share of first-year cost
    • Equipment and gate interfaces scoped and priced individually

Sea Machines

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

Which should you pick?

Choose Kaleris if

  • You need terminal operating system.
  • You work on Web, On-premise, Private cloud.
  • You also want yard management.
Kaleris 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 Kaleris or Sea Machines better?
Neither clearly leads. Kaleris 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, Kaleris or Sea Machines?
Kaleris starts at On request and Sea Machines at $50000/one-time.
Does Kaleris or Sea Machines run on more platforms?
Kaleris runs on Web, On-premise, Private cloud. Sea Machines runs on Embedded, Web, Mobile.
What is Kaleris best used for?
Kaleris is most often used for a container terminal replacing a legacy or in-house terminal operating system before an automation programme, a port authority standardising several terminals on one operating system and reporting layer, an ocean carrier that needs stowage planning and vessel performance tooling alongside terminal systems, a rail or intermodal operator trying to reduce demurrage exposure with asset level visibility. Of those, a container terminal replacing a legacy or in-house terminal operating system before an automation programme and a port authority standardising several terminals on one operating system and reporting layer are not what Sea Machines is typically brought in for.
What can Kaleris do that Sea Machines cannot?
Kaleris covers Terminal operating system, Yard management, Transportation management, Carrier and vessel solutions. Sea Machines covers Autonomous control, Remote operation, Collision avoidance, Pattern following.

Answered from the vendors’ own pages

Kaleris: Is Kaleris the same thing as Navis?

No. Navis is the terminal operating system product line, now owned by Kaleris after Cargotec sold it to Accel-KKR in 2021. Kaleris is the parent group and sells several other product lines alongside it.

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
Kaleris: Who owns Kaleris?

It is backed by the private equity firm Accel-KKR and assembled from acquired software businesses.

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
Kaleris: How long does a terminal operating system deployment take?

Plan for 12 to 24 months at a working container terminal, including parallel running. Anything shorter usually means a limited scope or a small facility.

Kaleris: Does it suit bulk or breakbulk terminals?

Less well. The functional depth is in container handling, and other cargo types require significant configuration.

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