What OMC International does

OMC International Pty Ltd is an Australian maritime engineering company founded in 1987 and headquartered in Abbotsford, Melbourne, that develops proprietary e-Navigation technology for managing under-keel clearance (UKC) of large commercial ships in draft-restricted port channels. The company's core product is DUKC® (Dynamic Under Keel Clearance), a real-time decision-support system that combines the proprietary SPMS ship-motion numerical model (developed by founder Dr Terry O'Brien since 1962), site-specific bathymetry, hydrodynamic modelling, and live environmental data (waves, tides, currents) to calculate safe vessel transit windows dynamically. The product portfolio has expanded to nine offerings including DPCM® (port capacity modelling), OMC iHeave® (IMU-based ship motion measurement), BerthAlert (moored vessel monitoring), PortWeather, KeelCheck, TransitAnalyst, and DUKC® Optimiser.

OMC operates exclusively through direct enterprise field sales to government port authorities and major resource companies, with no third-party resellers or marketplace channels. Revenue is generated through three streams: (1) bespoke DUKC® system installation and recurring software licensing/support (e.g. DUKC Series 5 web platform), (2) project-based professional services including channel design, dredge optimisation, ship motion studies, mooring analysis, and port capacity modelling, and (3) standalone SaaS subscriptions for the complementary software portfolio. Pricing is negotiated per-port/per-system with no public disclosure. The company has installed DUKC systems in 20+ ports across Australia, New Zealand, Europe, North America, and the Middle East, with anchor customers including Pilbara Ports Authority, Port Authority of NSW, Port of Melbourne, AMSA (Torres Strait), Port of Montreal, Port of Lisbon, BHP, Rio Tinto, FMG, ExxonMobil, and Ampol. OMC maintains offices in Melbourne, Nelson (NZ), Poundbury UK, and Halifax Canada; it is family-controlled (Dr Terry O'Brien as Executive Director and founder, Peter O'Brien as CEO), holds ISO 9001 certification, and most recently received ClassNK's Innovation Endorsement in October 2025.

Name

OMC International

Legal name

OMC International Pty Ltd

Website

https://omcinternational.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

1987

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

51–100 employees

Short description

OMC International is an Australian maritime engineering firm that develops proprietary Dynamic Under Keel Clearance (DUKC®) software and related e-Navigation products for port authorities, mining companies, and marine pilots managing large commercial vessels in shallow channels.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Maritime Navigation Software

NAICS

Navigational Services to Shipping (488330), Port and Harbor Operations (488310), Support Activities for Water Transportation (4883)

SIC

Services-Computer Integrated Systems Design (7373), Search, Detection, Navagation, Guidance, Aeronautical Sys (3812)

akta.pro primary industry

Hydrodynamics & Performance Engineering (Resistance, Propulsion, Seakeeping, Maneuvering) (IMAJAGAB)

Keywords

• Maritime navigation software
• Under keel clearance
• Port capacity modeling
• Vessel motion monitoring
• Channel design optimization

Headquarters

HQ city

Abbotsford

HQ country

Australia

HQ region

Oceania

Offices4 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Software

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. DUKC® System Installation & Licensing: Custom engineering installation and software licensing of the DUKC® dynamic UKC system for individual ports. Each installation is tailored to the specific port's channel configuration, vessel fleet, and environmental conditions. Includes ongoing support, maintenance, and system upgrades (e.g., DUKC® Series 5 web-based platform).
2. Professional Services & Engineering Studies: Channel design and dredge optimisation studies, ship motion studies, mooring analysis, navigation simulation studies, environmental data monitoring, and port capacity modelling using the DPCM. Project-based consulting engagements with port authorities and mining companies.
3. Software Subscriptions (PortWeather, BerthAlert, KeelCheck, TransitAnalyst): Standalone software-as-a-service products offered independently or as part of the DUKC ecosystem. PortWeather provides environmental data displays; BerthAlert provides berth safety monitoring; KeelCheck supports traditional UKC ports; TransitAnalyst provides pilot experience analytics.

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels8 records

Core offering

OMC International develops and sells the DUKC® (Dynamic Under Keel Clearance) software system that calculates and manages in real time how much under-keel clearance large commercial ships have when transiting draft-restricted channels. The company combines its proprietary SPMS ship-motion model with environmental data, channel bathymetry and vessel characteristics to enable ships to sail deeper and ports to operate more efficiently. It complements this with related software products (TransitAnalyst, BerthAlert, PortWeather, KeelCheck, OMC iHeave®) and bespoke engineering services such as channel design, dredge optimisation, mooring analysis, ship motion studies and port capacity modelling.

Product overview

OMC International offers a portfolio of maritime technology products centered on the core DUKC® (Dynamic Under Keel Clearance) platform, which is the world's only independently validated and widely operational real-time under-keel clearance technology. The product suite includes complementary tools: TransitAnalyst for pilot experience analytics, BerthAlert for moored vessel safety monitoring, PortWeather for environmental data displays, and KeelCheck for traditional UKC management. Supporting services include Port Capacity Modelling (DPCM®), Channel Design & Dredge Optimisation, Mooring Analysis, Ship Motion Studies, Navigation Simulation Studies, and Environmental Data Monitoring. The DUKC® platform is available as DUKC® Series 5 (web-based) and can be deployed alongside specialized instruments like the OMC iHeave® for full-scale vessel motion measurements.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• DUKC® (Dynamic Under Keel Clearance) Core real-time software platform that scientifically models a ship's under-keel clearance as it transits shallow channels, allowing larger vessels to safely carry deeper drafts. Sold as a tailored installation plus recurring license to port authorities, maritime regulators and mining companies.
• TransitAnalyst Database and analytics tool that aggregates AIS, PPU and environmental data so pilots and pilotage providers can quantify, search, filter and share operational experience for continuous improvement.
• BerthAlert Safety forecasting and monitoring system for moored ships that combines hydrodynamic modeling with measured and forecast environmental data to provide real-time alerts, mooring capacity assessments and 7-day berth usage planning.
• PortWeather Environmental data display platform that aggregates measurements and forecasts from wave buoys, tide gauges, current meters and meteorological stations to deliver port-specific wind, wave, tide and current intelligence through a single online portal.
• KeelCheck Online UKC management tool for ports using traditional static UKC rules, providing calculators for squat, heel and wave response under PIANC standard formulations and generating professional Master-Pilot information exchange reports.
• OMC iHeave® Award-winning self-contained Inertial Measurement Unit (IMU) instrument that measures ship heave, roll and pitch motions and can be deployed inside a vessel's bridge by a pilot or port personnel without additional cabling.
• Channel Design & Dredge Optimisation Engineering consulting service that uses DUKC® technology to design channel depth profiles matching specified access criteria, increasing sailing drafts and tidal windows while reducing capital and maintenance dredging costs.
• Ship Motion Studies Full-scale and numerical ship motion measurement and analysis engagements using SPMS modeling and the OMC iHeave® instrument, covering 730+ vessels across Australia, New Zealand, Asia, Europe and the USA.
• Mooring Analysis Engineering service analysing moored vessel behaviour, mooring line forces and passing vessel interactions for port and terminal operators, including validation using ROPES joint-industry project IP.
• Navigation Simulation Studies Real-time ship manoeuvring simulation studies conducted for ports and pilotage authorities to evaluate channel access, vessel handling and terminal approach safety.
• Environmental Data Monitoring Metocean and hydrodynamic monitoring services collecting, validating and delivering measured, forecast and hindcast environmental data tailored to port-specific conditions.
• Port Capacity Modelling (DPCM®) World-first dynamic port capacity model using discrete event simulation, fully integrating DUKC® calculations with site-specific environmental conditions and port factors to assess throughput and model future scenarios.

Quantifiable outcome

• Ships can sail up to 1 metre deeper, carrying 15,000+ extra tonnes of iron ore or coal per voyage
• +11 more outcomes

Named customers24 records

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed Yes

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

AI capability3 records

Feature9 records

Partnerships

Five partnerships are on record, tiered core.

• MetOcean SolutionscoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 October 2016OMC announced a strategic alliance agreement with New Zealand-based MetOcean Solutions in October 2016 to coordinate R&D efforts and offer expanded maritime forecasting and hydrodynamic services. The alliance launched three new products: KeelCheck, PortWeather, and BerthAlert. MetOcean provides meteorological and oceanographic data and forecasting capabilities that integrate with OMC's DUKC and berth monitoring systems.
• Marin Research Institute (ROPES Project Consortium)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2010OMC was an industry partner in the Marin Research Institute's ROPES (Research on Passing Effects on Ships) project from 2010-2013. The project developed and validated a computer tool to predict passing vessel effects including scale model testing and full-scale monitoring campaigns in the Port of Rotterdam. Participants included Ports of Rotterdam, Antwerp, Amsterdam, ExxonMobil, Cavotec, KRVE, and Deltares. OMC holds full rights to the developed IP which validates and complements its passing vessel model for mooring studies.
• Port Authority of New South WalescoreTechnology or IntegrationPort Authority of NSW has implemented DUKC systems across multiple ports including Port Botany and Port Kembla, and has been highly commended in the DCN Supply Chain & Innovation Awards for a standardised approach to predictive UKC technology across all its ports. Multiple systems commissioned and ongoing operational relationship.
• Pilbara Ports AuthoritycoreTechnology or IntegrationPilbara Ports Authority operates the world's largest bulk export port at Port Hedland. OMC has maintained an operational DUKC system at Port Hedland since 1995. PPA was joint winner with OMC of the IHMA 'Safe, Efficient & Secure Port' award. The 30-year partnership has generated records enabling 773Mt annual throughput and $100m of trade per day through the channel.
• Australian Maritime Safety Authority (AMSA)coreTechnology or IntegrationAMSA uses OMC's DUKC Series 5 as the Under Keel Clearance Management (UKCM) system for Torres Strait. AMSA renewed its contract with OMC in November 2023. DUKC enabled a permanent draught increase from 12.2m to 12.5m for vessels transiting Torres Strait, significantly benefiting the iron ore supply chain.

Scale indicators17 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Broad incumbents

• Saab TransponderTech: Provider of maritime traffic management and vessel traffic services solutions to port authorities. Adjacent peer to OMC's port-side navigation and decision-support capabilities within port authorities' technology budgets.
• Kongsberg Maritime: Norwegian maritime technology incumbent supplying navigation, automation, and safety systems for ports and commercial shipping. Highly comparable to OMC as both deliver mission-critical navigation and situational-awareness software where regulatory approval and integration with maritime piloting workflows are decisive.
• ABB Marine & Ports: Large industrial incumbent providing vessel traffic services, port automation, and shore-power systems. Competes with OMC in the broader port-modernization stack where ports increasingly procure single-vendor suites.
• Wärtsilä Voyage: Maritime navigation, ship traffic services, and port operations software arm of Wärtsilä. Direct overlap with OMC's DUKC and BerthAlert in e-Navigation and port efficiency use cases, with a much broader portfolio scale.
• Teledyne Marine: Marine instrumentation supplier offering ship-motion sensors, ADCPs, and oceanographic instruments comparable to OMC's iHeave IMU and PortWeather environmental data platform, often as part of broader ocean observation systems.

Direct peers

• HR Wallingford: UK-based maritime and coastal engineering consultancy offering navigation simulation, mooring analysis, and port capacity studies. Direct peer to OMC's engineering services portfolio with overlapping port authority customers.
• BMT Group: Maritime engineering consultancy providing port, coastal, and offshore engineering services including hydrodynamic modelling and ship-motion studies. Directly comparable to OMC's ship-motion studies, mooring analysis, and channel design offerings.
• DHI Group: Danish hydraulic and coastal engineering consultancy and software vendor building simulation tools for ports, coastal waters, and ship hydrodynamics. Closely comparable to OMC in hydrodynamic modelling IP and port-engineering consulting services.

Others

• Fugro: Global marine survey and geotechnical services company providing hydrographic, bathymetric, and metocean data — inputs that complement OMC's DUKC modelling. Often procured alongside OMC's services on large port-development projects but does not compete on the software layer.

Emerging players

• Trelleborg Marine & Infrastructure: Supplier of port infrastructure including mooring systems, fenders, and berthing solutions. Sells into the same port authority customers as OMC around berth and channel safety investments, with partial overlap on integrated berth-monitoring use cases.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat6 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/omci_dukc
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/omc-international

Compliance1 record

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles5 records

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 OMC International