What Sealution does

Sealution is a Belgian maritime IoT startup founded in 2021 and headquartered in Sint-Martens-Latem that solves the below-deck connectivity problem on steel-hulled vessels. Wireless signals do not penetrate ship's compartments, and traditional wireless mesh networks degrade as vessel size grows; Sealution's patented protocol transmits sensor data over a vessel's existing fire-detection and alarm cabling without disrupting other data flows. The core product is a plug-and-play Gateway designed to twist in between any standard smoke detector, collecting and transporting data from sensors and IoT devices in engine rooms, cargo holds, and other shielded spaces. The product architecture positions Sealution as a connectivity substrate that any third-party IoT sensor or analytics application can ride on top of, rather than as a single-purpose sensor company. Use cases enabled by the platform include predictive maintenance for propulsion systems, early fire and gas leak detection, automated vessel reporting (replacing manual noon reports), and crew safety monitoring.

The technology stack is anchored by three assets: the granted patent on the data-over-existing-cabling protocol, an Approval in Principle from Lloyd's Register granted in October 2023, and a full Type Approval from Lloyd's Register for the Gateway awarded in September 2024. These certifications are sector-specific gatekeepers for selling hardware into regulated commercial shipping, and they materially de-risk the technology validation step that most maritime hardware startups face. The system is sold as a single unified platform (the Sealution Connectivity System with The Gateway as the entry-point device), with the modular architecture intended to let ship operators expand applications over time.

Commercially, Sealution operates a hybrid enterprise B2B model. Revenue is generated from hardware sales of the Gateway, recurring software/subscription services for data collection, monitoring, and analytics, and installation/maintenance services delivered through the Telemar channel partnership signed November 2024. Pricing is quote-based on multi-year contracts, with direct enterprise field sales targeting ship owners, operators, charterers, ship construction firms, and maritime insurance companies. The go-to-market combines direct enterprise sales (website demo requests, trade show presence at Europort and Hong Kong Maritime Week), accelerator-driven corporate introductions (Techstars, ZEBOX, CDL-Atlantic, Thetius:Zero), and the Telemar channel for installation and maintenance. As of the latest data, only one vessel (a Dutch ship, January 2023) has been documented as testing the system, and revenue figures are not publicly disclosed.

Name

Sealution

Legal name

Sealution BV

Website

https://sealution.io

Company type

Private

Founded year

2021

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

Sealution is a Belgian maritime IoT startup that sells a plug-and-play gateway transmitting sensor data over a vessel's existing fire-detection cabling, enabling below-deck connectivity for ship owners, operators, charterers, shipbuilders, and maritime insurers.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Maritime IoT Connectivity

NAICS

Support Activities for Water Transportation (4883), Other Support Activities for Water Transportation (48839)

SIC

Water Transportation (4400), Measuring & Controlling Devices, Nec (3829)

akta.pro primary industry

Marine Cybersecurity & Networked OT Systems (IMAJAJAH)

akta.pro secondary industry

Maritime Cybersecurity & OT Security Compliance (IMO 2021, Port OT) (TLAHANAJ)

Keywords

• Maritime IoT connectivity
• Ship data collection
• Vessel performance monitoring
• Marine gateway hardware
• Maritime predictive maintenance

Headquarters

HQ city

Sint-martens-latem

HQ country

Belgium

HQ region

Europe

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Software

Cost components

Technology or R&D, Supply Chain, Personnel, Marketing or Sales, Operations, Others

Revenue model

1. Gateway Hardware Sales: Sale of plug-and-play gateway hardware that connects to existing ship infrastructure for data collection and transmission.
2. Software/Subscription Services: Ongoing software services for data collection, monitoring, and analytics. Modular system allowing expansion of applications and use cases over time.
3. Installation and Maintenance Services: Installation, service and maintenance services through channel partner Telemar.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels7 records

Core offering

Sealution sells a plug-and-play Gateway device paired with a proprietary IoT Connectivity System that transmits sensor data over a ship's existing cable infrastructure (fire detection/alarm systems) without disrupting other data flows. The solution enables real-time below-deck data collection, predictive maintenance, automated reporting, and crew safety monitoring for ocean-going merchant vessels. Customers include ship owners, operators, charterers, shipyards, and maritime insurers.

Product overview

Sealution offers a unified product platform centered on its core Gateway device and Connectivity System. The Gateway is a plug-and-play hardware device that connects to existing vessel infrastructure (twisting between standard smoke detectors) to collect and transport sensor data. The system leverages a proprietary protocol for transmitting data over existing ship cabling without disrupting other data flows. Key use cases enabled by the platform include Predictive Maintenance, Early Fire and Gas Leak Detection, Automated Reporting, and Crew Safety monitoring. The platform positions itself as a connector between IoT devices and ship owners/operators, with no limit to which applications can be deployed onboard.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• The Gateway A plug-and-play gateway device designed to twist in between standard smoke detectors on vessels, enabling seamless collection and transportation of sensor data using existing ship cable infrastructure for reliable wired connectivity below deck.
• Sealution Connectivity System

Quantifiable outcome

• Studies show Noon Report-based speed/consumption curves are 15-20% less accurate than continuous data-based reporting (University College London and Hyundai Heavy Industries research)
• +2 more outcomes

Named customers2 records

Segments5 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed Yes

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

AI capability1 record

Feature6 records

Partnerships

13 partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• TelemarcoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ Distributor · 11 November 2024Telemar, the leading provider of smart maintenance and remote access technologies, signed an agreement to offer installation, service and maintenance of Sealution's Type Approved shipboard data collection solution. Telemar already provides data collection from bridge navigation technology and the partnership extends their capability to gather data from propulsion and other critical systems for maintenance and troubleshooting.
• ZEBOXcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 December 2023Sealution selected to join ZEBOX accelerator created by Rodolphe Saade, Chairman and CEO of CMA CGM Group. Connects innovative startups with 20+ large corporate partners across 6 hubs globally (US, France, Caribbean, Singapore, UK, West Africa).
• Lloyd's RegistercoreTechnology or Integration · 1 October 2023Awarded Approval in Principle (AiP) in October 2023 and subsequently Type Approval in September 2024. Lloyd's Register provides maritime professional services and regulatory validation for Sealution's solution.
• Voka - Chamber of Commerce Antwerp-WaaslandminorGTM or Marketing Partner · 1 September 2022Selected Sealution for Voka tech@venture Singapore trip in 2022, providing access to Southeast Asian market through business development support.
• Eastern Pacific ShippingminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerShipping company partner acknowledged in company communications. Part of the ecosystem supporting Sealution's development.
• Schneider ElectricminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartner acknowledged in company communications. Schneider Electric provides energy management and automation solutions relevant to maritime operations.
• SeatrademinorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartner acknowledged in company communications. Seatrade is involved in maritime industry events and communications.
• TechstarscoreGTM or Marketing PartnerTechstars portfolio company. Provides business development support and network access for Sealution.
• PortXLminorGTM or Marketing PartnerPort innovation ecosystem partner. PortXL brings together companies and people working around innovation, sustainability and digitalization in the port and maritime industry.
• Creative Destruction Lab - Atlantic (CDL-Atlantic)coreGTM or Marketing PartnerSealution graduated from CDL-Atlantic's specialized Oceans stream acceleration programme at Dalhousie University's Faculty of Management in Halifax, Canada.
• Thetius:ZerocoreGTM or Marketing PartnerSelected for Thetius:Zero programme in partnership with Seaspan Corporation, Inmarsat and Lloyd's Register. Platform aims to explore solutions for maritime decarbonization.
• BlueBird Tech ClusterminorGTM or Marketing PartnerEcosystem partner at Flemish Port Day. BlueBird brings together companies working around innovation, sustainability, digitalization in the port and maritime industry.
• Hamburg Chamber of CommerceminorGTM or Marketing PartnerPartner for Nordic Startup Challenge enabling Sealution to access Hamburg's maritime ecosystem and Northern European markets.

Scale indicators4 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Broad incumbents

• Kongsberg Digital: Maritime digitalization arm of Kongsberg Group offering vessel performance, fleet management and connectivity solutions to shipowners and operators. Directly comparable as a ship-data and IoT platform provider with deep shipyard relationships, and a listed Sealution ecosystem partner.
• Wärtsilä Voyage: Provides smart vessel, navigation and digital fleet solutions globally, including sensor integration and bridge-to-cloud connectivity. Highly comparable as a broad maritime digitalization incumbent addressing vessel data collection and shore-side analytics.
• ABB Marine & Ports: Supplies vessel automation, propulsion and digital solutions including condition monitoring and remote diagnostics. Comparable as a large industrial incumbent selling below-deck monitoring and predictive maintenance into the same shipowner customer base.
• ABS Wavesight: Fleet management and vessel analytics platform spun out of classification society ABS, combining sensor data with regulatory expertise for shipowners. Comparable as an established vessel data and analytics platform focused on regulatory-driven digitization.

Direct peers

• Marlink: Global provider of maritime connectivity (satellite, hybrid networks) and digital solutions including remote vessel monitoring and IoT data services. Closely comparable as a connectivity-focused maritime digital services provider targeting fleet operators worldwide.
• Nautilus Labs: Vessel performance analytics platform combining ship sensor data with shore-side analytics for charterers and operators. Comparable as a vessel-data platform targeting fuel/performance optimization on merchant vessels, often using onboard IoT data.
• Dualog: Provides maritime IT infrastructure including ship-shore communication, email and data transfer, and onboard digital services for vessel operators. Comparable as a connectivity and onboard data infrastructure provider for the merchant fleet.
• Sedna (maritime communications): Maritime email, document and communication platform used by ship operators and charterers. Comparable as a ship-shore digital platform provider, though more focused on communications workflow than IoT connectivity.

Emerging players

• Thetius: Maritime innovation intelligence and analytics firm that runs programs (Thetius:Zero) with shipping majors to scout and accelerate startups including Sealution. Comparable as a maritime innovation ecosystem participant shaping adoption of vessel data and decarbonization tech.
• Zeabuz: Norwegian maritime autonomy and connectivity startup focused on vessel digitalization and autonomy enablers for small commercial vessels. Comparable as a peer-stage maritime IoT/autonomy startup targeting similar regulatory tailwinds and customer segments.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/sealution
• Xx.com/sealution_io

Compliance2 records

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles6 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds3 records

Investors5 records

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Sealution