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Maritime · head to head

Orca AI vs ZeroNorth

Orca AI logo

Orca AI

Maritime

Computer vision for maritime safety

From
$2000/month
Rated
-
Full reviewWebsite
ZeroNorth logo

ZeroNorth

Maritime

Voyage optimisation, bunker procurement and emissions reporting for shipping, priced per vessel per module

From
On request
Rated
-
Full reviewWebsite

The short version

  • Each has a real cost: 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; ZeroNorth zeroNorth reported a net loss of roughly $65m for the 2024 financial year, deepening by around 57 per cent, so a multi-year fleet commitment should include contractual protection on continuity and pricing.
  • They diverge on capability: Orca AI covers Computer vision detection, ZeroNorth covers Voyage optimisation.
  • Prices and features above were last checked on 1 September 2026.

Where they differ

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

Attributes where Orca AI and ZeroNorth differ
AttributeOrca AIZeroNorth
Starting price$2000/monthOn request
Pricing modelsubscriptionquote
PlatformsWeb, Maritime HardwareWeb, Cloud, iOS, Android
Founded2018Unknown

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 Orca AI

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

Only in ZeroNorth

  • Voyage optimisation
  • Bunker procurement
  • Bunker price intelligence
  • Emissions compliance
  • Vessel selection
  • Agentic voyage automation

What people use each for

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

Orca AI

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

ZeroNorth

  • A tanker operator wanting speed decisions that account for the freight market rather than optimising fuel in isolationnot Orca AI
  • A bunker buyer testing supplier quotes against independent fair value pricing before fixing a stemnot Orca AI
  • An owner needing EU ETS and FuelEU Maritime reporting derived from the same voyage data that drives operational decisionsnot Orca AI
  • A charterer evaluating which vessel to take on a cargo based on projected voyage economics rather than on nominal specificationsnot Orca AI

Where each one falls short

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

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

ZeroNorth

  • ZeroNorth reported a net loss of roughly $65m for the 2024 financial year, deepening by around 57 per cent, so a multi-year fleet commitment should include contractual protection on continuity and pricing.
  • The company consolidated operations during 2025, liquidating a Norwegian subsidiary, which is prudent cost control but means local presence and account continuity may not be what was originally sold.
  • Pricing is per vessel and per module, so the headline vessel figure understates the cost of an owner who wants voyage, bunker and emissions capability across a fleet.
  • Recommendation quality depends on the quality of noon reports and vessel data supplied, and an owner with poor reporting discipline will get poor optimisation regardless of the algorithms.
  • It sits between technical performance tools and chartering systems and fully replaces neither, so most owners run it alongside an existing voyage management system and pay for overlapping capability.

Pricing, plan by plan

Orca AI

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

ZeroNorth

On request
  • ZeroNorth platform$undefined/year
    • Subscription per vessel and per module
    • Voyage optimisation, bunker and emissions modules priced separately
    • Multi-year agreements typical

Which should you pick?

Choose Orca AI if

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

Choose ZeroNorth if

  • You need voyage optimisation.
  • You work on Web, Cloud, iOS, Android.
  • You also want bunker procurement.
ZeroNorth review

Questions people ask

Is Orca AI or ZeroNorth better?
Neither clearly leads. Orca AI starts at $2000/month and ZeroNorth at On request, and user ratings are close enough to be indistinguishable. Choose on capability and platform support.
Which is cheaper, Orca AI or ZeroNorth?
Orca AI starts at $2000/month and ZeroNorth at On request.
Does Orca AI or ZeroNorth run on more platforms?
Orca AI runs on Web, Maritime Hardware. ZeroNorth runs on Web, Cloud, iOS, Android.
What is Orca AI best used for?
Orca AI is most often used for automated lookout and marine target detection in congested or low visibility waters, bridge situational awareness and collision alerting, fleet-wide safety compliance monitoring through fleetview, perception for autonomous and unmanned vessels. Of those, automated lookout and marine target detection in congested or low visibility waters and bridge situational awareness and collision alerting are not what ZeroNorth is typically brought in for.
What can Orca AI do that ZeroNorth cannot?
Orca AI covers Computer vision detection, Navigation assistance, Collision avoidance, Situational awareness. ZeroNorth covers Voyage optimisation, Bunker procurement, Bunker price intelligence, Emissions compliance.

Answered from the vendors’ own pages

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
ZeroNorth: How is ZeroNorth priced?

Per vessel and per module on subscription, typically multi-year and quoted. Nothing is published.

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
ZeroNorth: Is ZeroNorth financially stable?

It is well funded, raising $20m in February 2025, but reported a net loss of roughly $65m for 2024. Treat continuity terms as a contractual issue.

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
ZeroNorth: Does it replace my voyage management system?

No. It complements commercial voyage management platforms; most owners run both and accept some overlap.

ZeroNorth: Does it need onboard hardware?

No. It works from noon reports, AIS and existing vessel data feeds rather than requiring its own collection box.

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