NAVTOR reports that it has completed the acquisition of software development company Masterloop, a firm led by one of NAVTOR’s original founders.
Jan Helge Skailand, Masterloop’s founder and CEO, was a member of the NAVTOR founding team in 2011, taking the role of CTO, before leaving to form Masterloop in 2013. The two companies have collaborated on numerous projects since that point.
“In many ways this feels like ‘coming home’,” said Mr Skailand.
“I know NAVTOR very well and the two companies share the same values, innovation culture, and commitment to developing new solutions that unlock powerful benefits for users. However, we also have a deep-dive domain specialiwation within IoT and have gained experience from working alongside a unique mix of customers.”
“So, I think we have something to offer a team that is already at the vanguard of maritime technology. I can’t wait to see what comes of this.”
Masterloop offers a range of IoT, AI and web-based services, including a proprietary IoT platform called Bluekey and a smart bike-sharing application. Its client base includes names such as Easee, Zaptec, Kolumbus and Kverneland Group.
The company’s expertise will now be added to NAVTOR’s innovation and development team, already strengthened by the acquisition of Voyager Worldwide in December. Masterloop’s staff of ten, based in Norway and Sri Lanka, will join NAVTOR’s global network of approximately 400.
A key early task will see the team add its skills to the Green AI for Sustainable Shipping (GASS) project, which is building digital twin and AI-based tech to introduce ‘dynamic voyage optimisation’ for vessels, aiming to cut emissions by up to 20%.
“We want to lead from the front and help change the industry with smart technology,” said NAVTOR CTO Anders Holme.
“Optimising performance and energy efficiency is one of our main focuses, helping our customers comply with stricter regulations, dramatically reduce fuel costs, and, of course, work towards ambitious decarbonisation goals.”
“We have a strong sense of purpose and an important role to play. It’s great to see a talented team like Masterloop buying into that, enhancing our capacity as we seek to ‘make a real difference’ for the industry we serve.”
