Hefring Marine
Hefring Marine is an Icelandic deep-tech company that builds the IMAS platform — an edge-AI-powered maritime intelligence system combining onboard speed guidance, impact detection, and cloud-based fleet analytics — for defense, search-and-rescue, commercial, and leisure vessel operators.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded2019
- HeadquartersReykjavík, Iceland
- Headcount11–50
- GTM typeB2B
- OfferingSoftware
What Hefring Marine does
Hefring Marine ehf. is an Icelandic deep-tech company founded in 2018/2019 that develops the IMAS (Intelligent Marine Assistance System) platform — an AI-driven maritime intelligence system combining edge AI hardware, real-time on-board decision support, and cloud-based fleet-wide analytics. The company's proprietary technology originated from research conducted with Icelandic boat builder Rafnar and the University of Iceland into wave slam events on high-speed vessels, yielding the world's first patented wave slam monitoring system. The IMAS platform includes three core components: IMAS Helm (onboard AI speed guidance with G-force monitoring, impact detection, and SafetySpeed/EcoSpeed modes, integrating with Garmin OneHelm, Raymarine LightHouse OS, Simrad, and Furuno chart plotters); IMAS Console (cloud-based fleet management with real-time tracking, analytics, and trip playback); and the Hefring Mobile companion app. Additional features include Intelligent Impact Analysis, Whole Body Vibration monitoring for Workboat Code 3 compliance, predictive maintenance, and USV/autonomous vessel support.
Hefring generates revenue through a hardware-enabled SaaS subscription model with annual billing, plus enterprise licensing for fleet-wide deployments. Pricing is quote-based and varies with fleet size and feature scope; hardware procurement is separate from subscription fees. The company serves four primary verticals — Defense & Naval, Civil Security (search and rescue, coast guard, law enforcement), Commercial Maritime (crew transfer vessels, fishing, pilotage, commercial shipping), and Offshore Energy — with named customers including ICE-SAR, Norwegian Society for Sea Rescue (Redningsselskapet), KNRM, Loodswezen (Dutch Pilots' Corporation), Italian Coast Guard, SAFE Boats International, Archipelago Yachts, Diverse Marine, TM Insurance, and Whale Safari.
The go-to-market combines direct enterprise field sales with an OEM-led channel strategy embedding IMAS as standard or optional equipment in vessel manufacturers' offerings, supported by event presence at European and US maritime trade shows. The company raised a €2.2 million seed round in May 2024 led by Faber Ventures and was selected for the NATO DIANA 2026 cohort (one of 15 maritime-domain companies from over 3,600 applicants), reflecting its push into defense and autonomous vessel applications. Headquartered in Reykjavík, Iceland, the company operates with approximately 15-20 employees and has active commercial presence in Iceland, Norway, Netherlands, UK, Italy, and the USA.
Hefring Marine firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- Hefring Marine
- Legal name
- Hefring ehf.
- Website
- https://hefringmarine.com
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 2019
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 11–50 employees
- Short description
- Hefring Marine is an Icelandic deep-tech company that builds the IMAS platform — an edge-AI-powered maritime intelligence system combining onboard speed guidance, impact detection, and cloud-based fleet analytics — for defense, search-and-rescue, commercial, and leisure vessel operators.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
Hefring Marine industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Maritime Intelligence Software
- NAICS
- Search, Detection, Navigation, Guidance, Aeronautical, and Nautical System and Instrument Manufacturing (334511)
- SIC
- Search, Detection, Navagation, Guidance, Aeronautical Sys (3812)
- akta.pro primary industry
- Marine Sensors, Instrumentation & IoT (Condition Monitoring) (IMAJAJAI)
- akta.pro secondary industries
- Marine Navigation Systems (ECDIS, Radar, GNSS, AIS) (IMAJAJAE), Marine & Underwater Robotics (USVs/UUVs) (HDAAAIAH), Unmanned Surface Vehicles (USV) & Autonomous Maritime Surface Platforms (IMABAIAE)
Keywords
Where Hefring Marine is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Reykjavík
- HQ country
- Iceland
- HQ region
- Europe
Offices2 records
Markets served
Hefring Marine business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2B
- Offering type
- Software
- Cost components
- Technology or R&D, Personnel, Marketing or Sales, Supply Chain, Operations, Infrastructure
Revenue model
- IMAS SaaS Subscription: Hardware-enabled software-as-a-service (SaaS) subscription model. Customers purchase edge AI hardware units and pay recurring subscription fees for platform access, real-time monitoring, analytics, and decision support features.
- Hardware Sales: Sale of proprietary edge AI hardware including sensors, processing units, and integration equipment for on-board installation.
- Enterprise Licensing: Fleet-wide enterprise licensing for large operators requiring multiple vessel deployments with centralized fleet management.
Pricing tiers
| Model | Billing | Price |
|---|---|---|
| Subscription | Annual | Enterprise fleet deployment with full platform access |
| Subscription | Annual | Standard single-vessel installation |
Go-to-market motion3 records
Distribution channels4 records
Marketing channels5 records
Hefring Marine product offering
Product offeringCore offering
Hefring Marine sells IMAS (Intelligent Marine Assistance System), an AI-driven maritime intelligence platform that combines edge AI hardware, real-time on-board guidance, and cloud-based fleet-wide analytics. The platform delivers AI speed optimization, impact and collision detection, predictive maintenance, and operational analytics across crewed and uncrewed vessels, serving defense, civil security, commercial, and leisure maritime operators.
Product overview
Hefring Marine's product portfolio is built around the IMAS (Intelligent Marine Assistance System) platform, a unified maritime intelligence system that combines edge AI hardware, real-time onboard decision support, and cloud-based fleet-wide analytics. The platform consists of two primary sub-products: IMAS Console (shore-based fleet management and analytics platform) and IMAS Helm (onboard AI speed guidance system integrated with chart plotters), plus the Hefring Mobile companion app. The Impact Report feature provides advanced vessel impact analysis. The overall system delivers real-time intelligence across defense, civil security, commercial, and leisure maritime sectors, with documented outcomes including up to 20% fuel savings, up to 87% reduction in wave slamming impacts, and up to 20% reduction in insurance premiums.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Brands
- IMAS (Intelligent Marine Assistance System): AI-driven maritime intelligence platform that combines edge AI hardware, real-time on-board guidance, and fleet-wide analytics for vessel safety, efficiency, and operational intelligence.
Products and services
- IMAS (Intelligent Marine Assistance System) Unified maritime intelligence platform combining edge AI hardware, real-time onboard guidance, and fleet-wide analytics. Provides AI-driven speed optimization, impact detection, predictive maintenance, and operational analytics across both crewed and uncrewed vessels for defense, civil security, commercial, and leisure operators.
- IMAS Console Shore-based cloud platform providing fleet-wide intelligence, real-time vessel tracking, advanced analytics, and maintenance monitoring for shore-based managers. Provides interactive maps, trip playback, and data-driven reporting tools.
- IMAS Helm Onboard AI speed guidance system integrated with chart plotters, providing real-time G-force monitoring, impact detection, and situational awareness at the helm. Processes data at the edge with no internet dependency. Features Safety Mode, Eco Mode, real-time alerts, and geofencing. Integrates with Garmin OneHelm, Raymarine LightHouse OS, Simrad, and Furuno chart plotters.
- Hefring Mobile Mobile app for iOS and Android delivering vessel status, trip data, and real-time alerts to fleet managers, marina operators, charter coordinators, and owners, enabling remote fleet monitoring without a desk-bound console.
Quantifiable outcome
- Up to 20% fuel use and CO2 emissions reduction
- +4 more outcomes
Companies that use Hefring Marine
Customer profileNamed customers10 records
Segments5 records
Ideal customer profiles4 records
Hefring Marine technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed Yes
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Integration4 records
AI capability7 records
Feature8 records
Hefring Marine partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
Twelve partnerships are on record, tiered core partnership, strategic, exclusive partnership and pilot partner.
- Marine AIcore partnershipIntegration of IMAS with Marine AI's GuardianAI autonomy suite for enhanced autonomous maritime operations. IMAS will be available as OEM-supported module within GuardianAI, providing real-time sea condition insights and optimized vessel operations for crewed and uncrewed vessels.
- SEA.AIcore partnershipStrategic partnership combining IMAS platform with SEA.AI's machine vision technology for AI-driven collision avoidance and comprehensive maritime safety solutions.
- Tocaro BluestrategicIntegration of Tocaro Blue's Radar perception technology with IMAS vessel decision-making system for intelligent speed recommendations and collision avoidance.
- SeaBot Maritimecore partnershipMoU partnership to integrate IMAS into high-speed uncrewed surface vessel (USV) operations. Joint development of AI-enabled USV operator training programs with SeaBot Maritime leading training content development.
- Norwegian Society for Sea Rescue (Redningsselskapet)core partnershipFleet-wide IMAS deployment following rigorous two-year competitive selection. Expansion from 8 current vessels to complete fleet over 2025-2026.
- Loodswezen (Dutch Pilots' Corporation)core partnershipStrategic partnership to install IMAS on Dutch pilotage operations. Stemmed from PoC project October 2023 - January 2024. Features developed include 'comfort mode' for pilot operations.
- SAFE Boats Internationalcore partnershipPartnership to provide IMAS decision support tools for SAFE Boats' range of professional vessels (2,500+ boats in service across 70+ countries), enhancing crew welfare, efficiency, and vessel insights.
- Diverse Marineexclusive partnershipExclusive integration of IMAS as standard feature in all new offshore wind crew transfer vessels built in the UK. Strategic alliance grants exclusivity for this sector.
- Archipelago Yachtscore partnershipIMAS Helm integrated as standard across all Archipelago expedition yachts, providing comfort-led guidance, fuel reduction, and navigation support for ocean-going vessels.
- ICE-SAR (Icelandic Association for Search and Rescue)core partnershipCommercial partnership to equip all new ICE-SAR rescue vessels with IMAS system. Follows successful pilot on rescue vessel Þór. Fleet-wide standardization across all 13 rescue ships.
- TM Insurancecore partnershipPartnership to offer data-verified insurance premium discounts based on IMAS safety data. Established premium reduction programs for customers demonstrating reduced risk through IMAS telemetry.
- KNRM (Royal Netherlands Sea Rescue Institution)pilot partnerInitial trials of IMAS system on KNRM vessels for operational validation and feedback. Positive responses from captains and operators.
Scale indicators11 records
Recent moves6 records
Expansion highlights6 records
Hefring Marine competitors and assessment
Company assessmentBroad incumbents
- ABB Marine & Ports: Global supplier of marine automation, electric propulsion, and autonomous ship solutions; competes with Hefring on autonomous vessel decision support and bridge intelligence at the system-integration level.
- Kongsberg Maritime: Major marine systems integrator offering automation, bridge systems, and condition monitoring across commercial and naval fleets; a broad incumbent that could bundle AI guidance functionality into its integrated solutions.
- StormGeo: Established fleet intelligence and weather-routing platform serving global shipping with voyage optimization; a broader incumbent whose routing and operational analytics compete with IMAS Console at the fleet-wide layer.
- Wärtsilä SmartShip: Provides fleet optimization, voyage analytics, and vessel performance services to commercial shipping; overlaps with IMAS Console's analytics and EcoSpeed value proposition at the fleet-wide optimization level.
Direct peers
- Orca AI: Computer-vision AI platform for maritime situational awareness, collision avoidance, and autonomous operations on commercial vessels; directly competes for the AI-guided navigation and fleet safety budget across similar commercial and defense segments.
- Awake.AI: Maritime AI vendor applying AI to smart ports, vessel traffic, and fleet intelligence; overlaps with IMAS Console's fleet analytics layer and shares the same AI-for-maritime positioning.
- SEA.AI: Offers machine-vision-based maritime collision avoidance and object detection; a current Hefring integration partner competing for the same AI-powered onboard safety and situational-awareness budget across leisure and professional fleets.
- Tocaro Blue: Provides radar-perception and intelligent speed recommendation technology for crewed and uncrewed vessels; closely comparable to IMAS's onboard guidance layer and a current technology integration partner.
- Marine AI: Provides the GuardianAI autonomy suite for unmanned surface vessels; already a Hefring technology integration partner, making it a directly comparable autonomous maritime AI platform with overlapping customer profile in defense and commercial USV markets.
- Captain's Eye: AI-based onboard video and behavior monitoring for maritime safety and incident detection; competes with Hefring's situational awareness and impact detection capabilities in the commercial fleet safety segment.
Market position
Strengths5 records
Weaknesses5 records
Competitive moat5 records
Key risks6 records
Key highlights7 records
Customer concentration
Hefring Marine social profiles
Digital presenceHefring Marine financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
Hefring Marine leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles12 records
Hefring Marine funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds6 records
Investors10 records
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Hefring Marine M&A and investment
M&A and investmentM&A
Investments
M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Frequently asked questions about Hefring Marine
What does Hefring Marine do?
Hefring Marine sells IMAS (Intelligent Marine Assistance System), an AI-driven maritime intelligence platform that combines edge AI hardware, real-time on-board guidance, and cloud-based fleet-wide analytics. The platform delivers AI speed optimization, impact and collision detection, predictive maintenance, and operational analytics across crewed and uncrewed vessels, serving defense, civil security, commercial, and leisure maritime operators.
Is Hefring Marine a public or private company?
Hefring Marine is a private company. It is classified as venture growth investor backed and is currently operating.
When was Hefring Marine founded?
Hefring Marine was founded in 2019. It employs 11 to 50 people.
Where is Hefring Marine based?
Hefring Marine is headquartered in Reykjavík, Iceland, in the Europe region.
How does Hefring Marine make money?
Three revenue lines are on record. IMAS SaaS Subscription is the primary driver. The others are hardware Sales and enterprise Licensing.
Who are Hefring Marine's main competitors?
Broad incumbents on record are ABB Marine & Ports, Kongsberg Maritime, StormGeo and Wärtsilä SmartShip. Direct peers are Orca AI, Awake.AI, SEA.AI, Tocaro Blue, Marine AI and Captain's Eye.
Does Hefring Marine have an API?
No public API is recorded for Hefring Marine.
What industry is Hefring Marine in?
Hefring Marine's product category is Maritime Intelligence Software. Its primary akta.pro industry code is IMAJAJAI, Marine Sensors, Instrumentation & IoT (Condition Monitoring), with a secondary code of IMAJAJAE, Marine Navigation Systems (ECDIS, Radar, GNSS, AIS). Its NAICS code is 334511 and its SIC code is 3812.