Marindows

What Marindows does

Marindows Inc. (Marindows株式会社) is a Tokyo-based maritime digital platform company incorporated in March 2021 by e5 Lab and a coalition of Japanese shipping companies with the stated mission of applying information-and-communications-technology to the structural challenges of Japan's domestic coastal shipping industry — crew shortage, decarbonization, and accident prevention. Headquartered at YANMAR TOKYO in Yaesu, Chuo-ku, and operating with a staff of 51–100, the company positions itself as a maritime operating-system provider rather than a vessel builder, sitting between shipowners, shipbuilders, and technology suppliers to orchestrate the digitalization and electrification of the coastal fleet. Domestic coastal shipping carries approximately 45% of Japan's domestic cargo, defining a substantial but aging addressable market in which the company is currently the most cross-cutting software-plus-vessel-platform player.

The technology stack is built around three layers. At the top sits Ocean OS Marindows, an integrated maritime digital platform that hosts subscription applications including Mariko (マリコ, a smartphone-style crew labor-management terminal aligned with the revised Seamen's Act), Draco (ドラコ, a network-connected maritime dashcam), Navico (ナビコ, a portable electronic chart system), and SHIP365, a satellite telephone service launched August 2022. Underneath sit the two strategic product brands introduced simultaneously in March 2023: DroneSHIP, a fully automated, smartphone-like EV ship ecosystem underpinned by the e-Platform 1.0 (an integrated, modular electric propulsion platform whose second-generation powertrain is approximately 80% smaller and lighter than the first generation and delivers 10%+ efficiency improvement) and the i-Platform 1.0 (an integrated DX platform for vessel operations and remote support); and OceanWISE, described as a maritime data-linkage and utilization platform that aggregates previously siloed vessel, port, and land data into a standardized ocean-data backbone. The company has also begun producing reference EV vessel designs: the Asuka biomass transport EV ship (499 GT, 440 kWh lithium-ion battery with generator hybrid, in service since July 2023, up to 50% CO2 reduction versus conventional vessels), a next-generation zero-emission container ship with Japan's first exchangeable container battery system being developed with Imoto Lines for the Kobe–Hiroshima route in FY2027, and a pure battery-powered EV harbor tugboat (6.66 MWh onboard battery, MW-class fast chargers) with Tokyo Kisen for Yokohama and Kawasaki ports targeting 2030 commercial service.

The revenue model combines (1) subscription / software-as-a-service revenue from shipping operators accessing the Ocean OS Marindows platform and its applications; (2) project-based, co-development engineering and systems-integration fees for EV vessel programs, where Marindows acts as project coordinator partnering with shipbuilders (IHI, Mitsubishi Shipbuilding), technology providers (Wärtsilä Voyage, SoftBank, Furuno), and shipowners (Asahi Tanker, Imoto Lines, Tokyo Kisen); and (3) a smaller professional-services line launched in September 2024 offering advertising and PR support to maritime companies and startups lacking in-house communications. Go-to-market is exclusively enterprise field sales targeting major Japanese shipowners through co-development partnerships; the 19+ seed-round investors double as customers, suppliers, distribution channels, and product co-designers, giving the company unusually deep ecosystem penetration but also concentrating revenue and influence within a single domestic market. Distribution is single-country (Japan), primarily direct enterprise sales supplemented by maritime trade shows (notably Sea Japan 2022) and digital channels including the Marindows YouTube channel, Facebook, Instagram, and corporate website. Pricing is not publicly disclosed, though SHIP365 satellite-phone service has been positioned at smartphone-comparable rather than legacy multi-thousand-yen levels to drive small-vessel adoption.

Name

Marindows

Legal name

Marindows株式会社

Website

https://marindows.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

2021

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

51–100 employees

Short description

Marindows is a Tokyo-based maritime digital platform company building Ocean OS Marindows, the DroneSHIP autonomous EV ship ecosystem, and OceanWISE ocean-data platform to address crew, decarbonization, and safety challenges for Japanese coastal shipping operators through subscription software and joint EV vessel programs.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Maritime Digital Platform

NAICS

Ship Building and Repairing (336611), Ship and Boat Building (33661)

SIC

Ship & Boat Building & Repairing (3730)

akta.pro primary industry

Marine Electrical Installation, Commissioning & Field Services (IMAJAJAL)

akta.pro secondary industries

Propulsion MRO, Spares & Field Service (Overhauls, retrofits, upgrades) (IMAJAHAN), Life-Saving Appliances & Safety Equipment (Davit Systems, Lifeboats, Firefighting) (IMAJAIAG), Production Design & Detailed Engineering (3D CAD, Drawings, BOM, Nesting) (IMAJAGAK)

Keywords

• Maritime digital platform
• Electric vessel systems
• Crew management software
• Autonomous ship technology
• Satellite communication services

Headquarters

HQ city

Tokyo

HQ country

Japan

HQ region

Asia

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Software

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. Marindows Platform Subscription / Software Services: Subscription-based access to the maritime OS platform and applications (Marico, Drac, Navico, crew health management, and other apps) provided to shipping companies. Revenue is recurring from platform access and app usage.
2. EV Vessel Systems Integration and Project Coordination: Fees from co-development and project coordination services for EV vessel projects including DroneSHIP, pure battery tugboats, and zero-emission container ships, involving shipbuilders and technology partners.
3. Integrated Advertising and PR Support Services: One-stop advertising and PR support services for maritime companies and startups that lack in-house PR departments, targeting awareness, recruitment, and partnership goals.

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels2 records

Marketing channels7 records

Core offering

Marindows builds and operates Ocean OS Marindows, an integrated maritime digital platform (cloud-based OS) that unifies vessel operations, crew management, safety systems, and EV powertrain management for Japanese domestic coastal shipping. The platform bundles applications including Marico (crew labor terminal), Drac (maritime dashcam), Navico (portable electronic chart), and SHIP365 (satellite phone service), along with the DroneSHIP ecosystem for autonomous EV vessels, OceanWISE maritime data platform, and co-developed EV vessels such as the Asuka EV tanker, pure battery EV harbor tugboat, and next-generation zero-emission container ship. Revenue is generated through platform subscription, project-based EV vessel co-development, and integrated advertising/PR support services for maritime companies.

Product overview

Marindows operates as a platform-plus-modules maritime DX company. Its core product is the Ocean OS Marindows — an integrated maritime digital platform that serves as the foundational OS for the maritime industry. The platform is complemented by applications including Marico (crew work management terminal), Dracoir (maritime standard dashcam), Navico (portable electronic chart), and SHIP365 (satellite phone service). The company also develops and supports electric vessel products — including the EV Tanker, EV ship 'Asuka', Pure Battery EV Harbor Tugboat, and the Next-Generation Zero-Emission Container Ship — all built around standardized modular EV and digital platforms (e-Platform1.0 and i-Platform1.0). DroneSHIP functions as the fully automated EV ship ecosystem brand, while OceanWISE serves as the ocean data platform. A standardized shore-to-ship charging ecosystem and advertising support services round out the portfolio.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• DroneSHIP: World's first fully automated EV ship ecosystem — a standardised and modularised robotic electric propulsion vessel for domestic shipping, targeting crew shortage, environmental, and safety challenges.
• OceanWISE
• マリコ (Mariko)
• ドラコ (Draco)
• ナビコ (Naviko)
• SHIP365

Products and services

• Ocean OS Marindows (海洋OSマリンドウズ) Integrated maritime digital platform (cloud-based OS) that serves as the foundational OS for the maritime industry, providing digital applications and infrastructure to address crew welfare, safety, and environmental sustainability for Japanese domestic coastal shipping companies.
• DroneSHIP Fully automated EV ship ecosystem featuring standardized, modularized design with smartphone-style EV vessels, remote support systems, standardized power trains, cockpits, and autonomous mooring assistance. Targets reduction of crew and skill requirements and transformation of maritime labor conditions.
• OceanWISE Open and standardized maritime data linkage and utilization platform that connects previously siloed ocean data across vessels, ports, and land-based systems to enable new value-added services in safety, environment, logistics, and autonomous shipping.
• Marico (マリコ) — Crew Business Support Terminal Smartphone-style crew labor management terminal with simplified UI/UX for age and skill-level accessibility, including attendance input and management apps required under the revised Seamen's Act for crew welfare and labor reform compliance.
• Drac (ドラコ) — Domestic Coastal Standard Dashcam Network-connected maritime dashcam system for domestic coastal vessels providing real-time safety monitoring, accident prevention, and operational data for vessel owners and operators at cost-efficient price points.
• Navico (ナビコ) — Portable Electronic Chart Affordable portable electronic chart system (ECDIS) for domestic coastal vessels with network integration to provide enhanced safety, navigation planning, real-time positioning, and operational coordination with vessel owners and operators.
• SHIP365 — Satellite Phone Service Satellite phone/internet service for small vessels providing SOS transmission, position reporting, and two-way communication at smartphone-comparable pricing to improve safety, connectivity, and accident prevention across Japanese maritime zones.
• EV Ship 'Asuka' (世界初バイオマス輸送EV船「あすか」) World-first biomass transport EV ship with fully electric propulsion and generator hybrid, equipped with advanced automation support systems reducing berthing crew requirements from 5 to 3. Delivers up to 50% CO2 emissions reduction versus existing same-type vessels.
• Advertising and PR Support Services One-stop advertising and PR support service covering brand awareness improvement, recruitment support, and partner acquisition for maritime industry companies and startups without internal PR departments. Includes YouTube content production and media outreach.

Quantifiable outcome

• CO2 emissions reduction of up to 50% compared to existing same-type vessels for EV hybrid operations (e.g., Asaka biomass carrier)
• +4 more outcomes

Named customers3 records

Segments3 records

Ideal customer profiles2 records

Technology focussed Yes

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Integration4 records

AI capability5 records

Feature11 records

Partnerships

Eight partnerships are on record, tiered core.

• Tokyo Kisen Co., Ltd. (東京汽船)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 13 August 2025Joint development of Japan's first pure battery EV harbor tugboat (scheduled 2030) for zero-emission port operations. Marindows serves as project coordinator providing digital systems and EV vessel expertise. Tokyo Kisen contributes electric propulsion operating experience from their TAIGA hybrid tugboat and vessel operations.
• e5 Lab Inc. (株式会社e5ラボ)coreTechnology or Integration · 13 August 2025Technical development support for the pure battery EV harbor tugboat project. e5 Lab contributes EV powertrain and vessel integration expertise from prior EV vessel development projects.
• Asahi Tanker Co., Ltd. (旭タンカー)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 5 September 2024Deployment of Starlink Business satellite broadband across Asahi Tanker's entire domestic coastal tanker fleet. Marindows handles digital equipment installation, network optimization, and digitalization of vessel operations, while Asahi Tanker provides the vessel fleet and operational infrastructure.
• Imoto Lines (井本商運)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 18 April 2024Joint development of Japan's first next-generation zero-emission container ship with exchangeable container batteries for the Kobe–Hiroshima route. Project adopted by Ministry of Environment as a three-year carbon neutral technology development program (FY2024–2027). Marindows serves as technical co-developer with Imoto Lines as project representative.
• Promotion Council for Zero Emission Chargers for Ships (船舶向けゼロエミチャージャージャパン)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 18 July 2023Marindows is a founding member of this industry consortium together with e5 Lab, e-Mobility Power, CHAdeMO Association, Japan Ship Technology Research Association, Mitsubishi Shipbuilding, and Development Bank of Japan. The council aims to develop and promote standardized universal shore-to-ship zero emission charging infrastructure at Japanese ports (Hanshin Port and Keihin Port planned for Phase 1 by FY2025).
• SoftBank Corp.coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 26 August 2022Capital and business partnership for maritime DX acceleration. SoftBank provides satellite broadband communication solutions (OneWeb NTN, satellite phone) and cloud infrastructure for the Marindows maritime digital platform. Both companies collaborate on vessel safety, crew management apps, and broader maritime digital transformation initiatives.
• Wärtsilä Voyage (Wärtsilä Corporation)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 20 April 2022Investment and cooperation agreement announced at Sea Japan 2022 in Tokyo. Partnership aims to enhance vessel optimization and autonomy using digital solutions, strengthening Wärtsilä's presence in Japan and supporting shipping decarbonization efforts through Marindows' digital platform.
• e5 Lab Inc. (株式会社e5ラボ)coreTechnology or Integration · 20 April 2022e5 Lab, co-founded by CEO Yasumasa Suetsugu, is both founding shareholder and core technology partner. Jointly developing EV vessels (Asaka, container ship, tugboat) and EV powertrain systems. e5 Lab is a joint venture of multiple shipping companies for maritime electrification and digitalization.

Scale indicators7 records

Recent moves8 records

Expansion highlights7 records

Broad incumbents

• IHI Corporation: Japanese industrial conglomerate with marine engine, propulsion and powertrain businesses (IHI Power Systems). IHI is a Marindows investor and a potential supplier/competitor in marine propulsion systems, particularly for the EV/hybrid powertrain segment where Marindows' e-Platform 1.0 competes.
• Wärtsilä Voyage: Voyage solutions division of global marine technology group Wärtsilä, providing navigation, simulation, digital platform and vessel optimization software. Wärtsilä Voyage is both a Marindows investor (since April 2022) and a direct competitor in vessel optimization, autonomy and digital fleet platforms — offering overlapping capabilities as part of a much broader portfolio serving global shipping.
• ABB Marine & Ports: Global supplier of electric propulsion, power systems, automation and digital solutions for ships. ABB's vessel electrification products (battery, hybrid, fuel cell systems) compete directly with Marindows' e-Platform 1.0 EV powertrain offering, and its fleet digital services overlap with Ocean OS functionality — though ABB's scope is far broader and global.
• Kongsberg Maritime: Norwegian maritime technology group offering integrated vessel automation, autonomy (Yara Birkeland project), electrification and digital platform solutions. Kongsberg's autonomy stack and integrated vessel systems overlap with Marindows' DroneSHIP ecosystem and Ocean OS, and it represents the European incumbent blueprint for the same end market Marindows targets domestically.
• Furuno Electric Co., Ltd. Japanese global leader in marine electronics (navigation radars, ECDIS, sonar, communications). Furuno is a Marindows shareholder and a potential competitor in navigation/chart systems (overlapping with Marindows' Navico portable electronic chart offering) and integrated bridge systems. Furuno's established installed base gives it significant incumbent advantage in Japan.
• Mitsubishi Shipbuilding Co., Ltd. Major Japanese shipbuilder (part of MHI Group) and a Marindows seed investor. Mitsubishi Shipbuilding co-founded the Promotion Council for Zero Emission Chargers for Ships and is developing its own gas/electric propulsion systems. It is both a potential shipbuilder partner and a competitor in next-generation vessel systems.

Others

• Kpler: Global maritime data and analytics platform covering vessel tracking, trade flows and commodities. As OceanWISE matures into an ocean data linkage and utilization platform, it competes for analytical mindshare against established maritime data vendors like Kpler, which already serve many of the same shipping customers with proprietary data products.

Direct peers

• e5 Lab Inc. Tokyo-based maritime engineering JV founded by multiple Japanese shipping companies to commercialize EV vessels. e5 Lab co-developed the Asuka biomass EV ship with Marindows and co-founded the Promotion Council for Zero Emission Chargers for Ships. As Marindows' founding shareholder and core technology partner (with overlapping CEO/strategic leadership), e5 Lab is the closest peer in business model, customer base and product roadmap.

Emerging players

• Fleetzero: US-based startup developing containerized battery systems for electrifying ocean cargo ships, allowing shipowners to swap batteries port-to-port. Fleetzero's containerized battery approach overlaps with Marindows' exchangeable container battery concept for the Imoto Lines zero-emission container ship.
• Zero Emission Services (ZES): Dutch-Japanese joint venture developing containerized battery swap and charging infrastructure for inland and short-sea shipping, including a Japan-focused rollout. ZES directly parallels Marindows' exchangeable container battery concept and zero-emission charger consortium play, making it a leading emerging peer in vessel electrification-as-a-service.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat6 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• YouTubeyoutube.com/channel/UCmshab8WA84FSq5u89Lm7SA
• Facebookfacebook.com/Marindows-Inc-110212068180060
• Instagraminstagram.com/marindows.inc
• Xx.com/Marindows0303
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/marindows

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles1 record

Funding overview

Funding rounds1 record

Investors1 record

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 Marindows