Seadronix, a South Korean startup focused on maritime safety, aims to address the significant issue of marine accidents, with 75% attributed to human error, as highlighted in a 2019 Allianz report. Recently, the company raised $5.8 million in a Series A extension, bringing its total funding to $8.3 million, to expand its AI-driven ship berthing monitoring and navigation systems. This funding was led by SoftBank Ventures Asia and will enable Seadronix to grow its team—currently 30 employees—and to venture into international markets, especially in smart port locations like Singapore and Europe.
Smart ports utilize advanced technologies such as AI, big data, the Internet of Things, and 5G to improve security and energy efficiency while streamlining the docking and logistics processes for large vessels. Although some global ports, including Rotterdam, Hamburg, and Singapore, are adopting these technologies, the traditional shipping industry remains largely conservative and hesitant to embrace change, posing an opportunity for disruption.
CEO and co-founder Byeolteo Park emphasizes the company’s mission to establish an AI platform dedicated to ocean safety and environmental protection. The newly acquired funds will be instrumental in bolstering Seadronix’s capabilities in AI, sensor fusion, and navigation as it aims for further international expansion.
Founded in December 2015 by Park along with co-CTOs Donghun Kim and Hankeun Kim, all of whom have backgrounds in autonomous cargo ship research at the Korea Advanced Institute of Science and Technology (KAIST), Seadronix has already made significant strides. Its AI-based berthing monitoring system, AVISS, utilizes vision sensors and lidar technology to assist large vessels in docking. Another innovation, the NAVISS system, is designed to enhance navigation for cargo ships and can be retrofitted onto existing vessels.
Seadronix’s systems are currently in use at four ports in South Korea—Incheon, Busan, Ulsan, and Yeosu—along with partnerships with the South Korean Ministry of Oceans and Fisheries and SK Incheon Petrochem. Hyundai Heavy Industries is also a customer, incorporating Seadronix’s NAVISS into its intelligent berthing assistant system, HiBAS. The startup collaborates with telecommunications companies to ensure reliable connectivity through 5G or 6G networks.
Ultimately, Seadronix targets a market that includes global shipbuilders, ship operators, and port operators seeking to digitalize their operations, positioning itself as a key player in a crucial industry transitioning towards modernization and enhanced safety protocols.
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