Novaco

Name

Novaco

Legal name

Novaco Navigation Limited

Website

https://novaco.co.uk

Company type

Private

Founded year

1990

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Headquarters

HQ city

London

HQ country

United Kingdom

HQ region

Europe

Offices5 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Software

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. Digital Navigation Subscriptions: Recurring subscription revenue from digital charts (AVCS, ENCs), digital publications (ADP, AeNP), and navigational data services. Customers pay for access to chart services, updates, and navigation management platforms.
2. NovacoHub Hardware: Sale of NovacoHub hardware device - a combined hardware/software solution for navigation data delivery and vessel tracking. The device is sold as standalone technology or bundled with subscription services.
3. NovacoPAYS Usage-Based: Pay As You Sail service where vessels are charged based on actual ENC cells traversed, providing intelligent billing aligned with actual voyage routes rather than predicted corridors.
4. Paper Charts and Publications: Physical distribution of paper charts and publications to vessels, with automated update notifications and order processing.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels5 records

Marketing channels5 records

Core offering

Novaco provides integrated navigation management software, hardware, and chart services for commercial shipping fleets. The company distributes ADMIRALTY electronic navigational charts (AVCS), digital publications, and related navigation data through its NovacoBridge platform, NovacoHub vessel device, Novaco NB+ cloud portal, and NovacoPAYS usage-based licensing, enabling SOLAS Chapter V compliance for container ships, tankers, bulk carriers, and offshore vessels.

Product overview

Novaco provides integrated navigation management products and services for commercial and leisure vessels, combining software platforms, web portals, and hardware to deliver comprehensive chart, publication, and tracking services. The core offering centers on NovacoBridge as an all-in-one navigation management platform, complemented by NovacoHub (hardware device for data delivery and vessel tracking), Novaco NB+ (web-based cloud portal), and NovacoPAYS (pay-as-you-sail chart licensing). Supporting modules include NovacoPlan (passage planning), ChartViewer (ENC display), eBooks (digital publications), Navigational Warnings Service, and Novaco Weather. The portfolio supports both digital and paper chart workflows for SOLAS compliance.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• NovacoBridge: Comprehensive chartroom management solution for accessing ADMIRALTY digital and paper products, managing temporary and preliminary corrections, accessing navigational warnings, passage planning, and fleet tracking.
• Novaco NB+
• NovacoHub
• NovacoPAYS
• Novaco Weather
• NovacoPlan
• ChartViewer

Products and services

• NovacoBridge Comprehensive chartroom management solution providing integrated navigation management for vessels and onshore teams; supports electronic and paper charts, publications, Notices to Mariners, passage planning, vessel tracking, and navigational warnings from a single platform. Available as all-in-one suite or modular subscriptions.
• Novaco NB+ Web-based cloud management portal enabling shore-based teams and vessel crews to plot and manage routes, select, buy and maintain digital and paper charts and publications, and exercise financial control over navigation procurement.
• NovacoHub Combined hardware and software device that attaches to the wheelhouse and via a single Ethernet cable delivers charts and updates to ECDIS, ENCs and e-books to networked PCs, and real-time vessel tracking to remote shore-based teams; plug-and-play self-configuration with 30-mile traffic awareness.
• NovacoPAYS Pay-As-You-Sail chart licensing service that uses NovacoHub vessel tracking to charge only for ENC cells vessels actually traverse under the keel; provides access to over 25,000 ENCs for planning purposes with no corridor charges.
• Novaco Weather Standalone 7-day weather forecasting service with global coverage offering GRIB and classical weather data, animated forecasts, and Grib Explorer display software compatible with PC or Mac; sourced from NOAA/NCEP and NRL.
• NovacoPlan Passage planning module integrated within NovacoBridge enabling port-to-port voyage planning, time and distance calculations, under keel clearance, squat calculations, tide assessments, and optimized chart and publication requirements; core module is free with NovacoBridge.
• ChartViewer ENC viewing module providing ECDIS-like functionality on PC, laptop or tablet with route display, T&P warnings, NavArea warnings, and vessel tracking overlay for emergency backup or independent navigation aid.
• eBooks Digital publication module providing access to ADMIRALTY, IMO, and Witherby publications and content from BIMCO, CDI, IACS, ICS, IMarEST, INTERCARGO, INTERTANKO, MNTB, OCIMF, SIGTTO, Tanker Structure Co-Operative Forum, and UK Chamber of Shipping via integrated IMO bookshelf eReader.
• Navigational Warnings Service Navigation warning service providing access to all 21 worldwide NavArea warning regions; delivered through NovacoBridge with graphical overlay on ENC charts via ChartViewer.

Quantifiable outcome

• 75% reduction in time spent managing chart updates
• +5 more outcomes

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles2 records

Technology focussed Yes

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Integration7 records

Feature9 records

Partnerships

Five partnerships are on record, tiered core and regional.

• United NavigationcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerParent company of Novaco Navigation. Novaco became part of United Navigation in 2010. Both companies share guiding principles and operate under shared core values including flat management structure and employee ownership model.
• ADMIRALTY (UKHO)coreTechnology or IntegrationAuthorized distributor of ADMIRALTY Vector Chart Service (AVCS), ADMIRALTY Digital Publications (ADP), ADMIRALTY e-Nautical Publications (AeNP), and ADMIRALTY Information Overlay (AIO). ADMIRALTY is a trademark of the Secretary of State for Defence.
• Riviera Charts EurlregionalChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorFrench distributor for Novaco products and services. Located in Antibes, France.
• NOAA/NCEP and NRLcoreTechnology or IntegrationWeather data providers for Novaco Weather service. Data collated from world leading producers including NOAA/NCEP (National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration/National Centers for Environmental Prediction) and NRL (Naval Research Laboratory).
• IMO Bookshelf eReader PlatformcoreTechnology or IntegrationIntegrated eReader platform partnership enabling access to IMO and Witherby digital publications within NovacoBridge. Also includes BIMCO, CDI, IACS, ICS, IMarEST, INTERCARGO, INTERTANKO, MNTB, OCIMF, SIGTTO, Tanker Structure Co-Operative Forum, and UK Chamber of Shipping publications.

Scale indicators5 records

Recent moves9 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• NAVTOR: Norwegian maritime navigation services company offering digital charts, publications, and a pay-as-you-sail (PAYS) service. NAVTOR is the most direct competitor to Novaco, operating in the same niche of electronic chart distribution and serving similar commercial shipping customers.
• OneOcean (formerly ChartCo): UK-headquartered digital navigation services provider offering integrated chart management, passage planning, and compliance solutions. Operates as a direct competitor in the same niche as Novaco, serving commercial shipping fleets with similar digital chart and publication management platforms.
• ChartWorld: Digital chart distributor and ECDIS service provider serving commercial shipping. Direct competitor offering chart management, navigation data delivery, and MyChart electronic chart services analogous to NovacoBridge.

Broad incumbents

• Furuno Electric: Japanese marine electronics manufacturer producing ECDIS, radar, sonar, and integrated bridge systems. Competitor in the broader maritime navigation market serving commercial shipping customers with overlapping bridge navigation solutions.
• Sperry Marine (Northrop Grumman): Supplier of marine navigation, including ECDIS, radar, and bridge systems. While primarily a hardware-focused incumbent, its integrated navigation platforms compete with NovacoBridge for shipowner navigation management contracts.
• Jeppesen Marine: Boeing-owned commercial navigation services provider offering digital charts, publications, and integrated navigation solutions. Overlaps with Novaco's chart management and passage planning offerings, serving the same commercial shipping market from a much larger parent organization.
• Kongsberg Maritime: Norwegian marine technology company offering integrated bridge systems, navigation, and automation for commercial shipping and offshore. Competes with Novaco in the broader navigation management market through K-Bridge and Vessel Insight platforms.
• Wärtsilä Voyage: Division of Wärtsilä Corporation offering integrated navigation, simulation, and digital fleet operations solutions. Serves the same commercial shipping customers with broader portfolio including ECDIS hardware, Voyage Service Platform, and fleet management - overlapping with Novaco's bridge navigation solutions.
• Raytheon Anschütz: Manufacturer of marine navigation and bridge systems including ECDIS, radar, and integrated bridge systems. Competes with Novaco for bridge navigation market but also partners with distributors on integrated solutions.

Emerging players

• Greenland Astor: Digital navigation solutions provider offering Maritime Suite, eLog, and chart management solutions. Competes with NovacoBridge in chart and publication management for commercial shipping with digital-first positioning.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• YouTubeyoutube.com/channel/UCtZIbjHvpvFAq7RhpcPoxww
• Facebookfacebook.com/profile.php
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/novaco-limited

Compliance2 records

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles1 record

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

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 Novaco