Israeli Company Orca AI Creates the “Marine Waze” — the AI-Powered Co-Captain Navigator

The Israeli startup Orca AI has unveiled its innovative Co-Captain system, already being called the “Marine Waze.” The platform enables more than a thousand vessels around the world to exchange real-time navigation data, significantly improving the safety and efficiency of maritime transport.

The Co-Captain system turns each vessel into a participant in a unified network, where data about routes, weather conditions, and potential risks are shared and analyzed in real time. Artificial intelligence processes this information and alerts crews to possible dangers — including congested sea routes, collision risks, reduced visibility, satellite navigation disruptions, as well as pirate-prone areas or displaced buoys.

Orca AI’s development is aimed at reducing the number of maritime incidents and optimizing routes. According to the company, the number of sea accidents has risen by nearly 40% in recent years, making the need for collective navigation technologies more urgent than ever.

Company representatives note that Co-Captain can not only enhance safety but also reduce fuel consumption by helping captains choose shorter and safer routes. Conceptually, the system resembles the popular Waze app but is adapted for global maritime navigation.

Experts describe the launch of Co-Captain as one of the most significant technological developments in “smart shipping” in recent years and view it as a major step toward the digital transformation of the maritime industry.