Kannad Marine

What Kannad Marine does

Kannad Marine, founded in 1986 and headquartered in Portsmouth, UK, operates as one of three global marine safety electronics brands under the parent company Seas of Solutions (alongside Netwave and McMurdo). The company designs and supplies distress positioning and vessel safety hardware — including 406 MHz EPIRBs and PLBs, AIS-based search-and-rescue transponders (AIS SART, AIS MOB) and Class A transponders, AIS electronics, marine VHF radios, and Netwave-branded Voyage Data Recorders. Its product engineering emphasises accelerated location detection through dual GNSS receivers across the PLB line and holds a documented first-mover position with the FastFind Return Link RLS PLB, the world's first personal locator beacon providing return-link confirmation that a distress signal has been received.

The business is built around regulatory-grade, type-approved hardware for commercial maritime, with key certifications covering IMO SOLAS carriage requirements and EU Inland Waterway operations, creating a structural barrier for non-certified alternatives. Kannad Marine serves SOLAS-class commercial ships, professional non-SOLAS vessels, and individual maritime users who buy personal safety equipment; the customer segmentation approach is explicitly horizontal across maritime safety use cases rather than vertically concentrated in any single shipping sub-sector.

The revenue model is predominantly hardware sales of marine safety equipment complemented by a service and support stream (technical support, repairs, returns, warranty, and service manual/bulletin distribution) executed through an authorised global network of distribution and service partners, managed via a dedicated Partner Portal. Pricing is not publicly disclosed and quotes are routed through sales or distribution channels. Go-to-market relies on channel partners, four major international maritime trade shows (SMM Hamburg, METS Amsterdam, APM Singapore, Posidonia Athens) in 2026, and content marketing through a structured resources library covering technology overviews, case studies, and survival stories. UK and Netherlands offices support general enquiries and a 24-hour technical support line.

Name

Kannad Marine

Website

https://kannadmarine.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

1986

Operating status

Operating

Short description

Kannad Marine, a Seas of Solutions brand headquartered in Portsmouth, UK, designs and supplies SOLAS-certified maritime distress and safety electronics — EPIRBs, PLBs, AIS transponders, AIS MOB/SART, VHF, and VDRs — for commercial, professional, and individual maritime users globally via authorised distribution and service partners.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Marine Safety Electronics

NAICS

Search, Detection, Navigation, Guidance, Aeronautical, and Nautical System and Instrument Manufacturing (334511)

SIC

Search, Detection, Navagation, Guidance, Aeronautical Sys (3812), Measuring & Controlling Devices, Nec (3829)

akta.pro primary industry

Life-Saving Appliances & Safety Equipment (Davit Systems, Lifeboats, Firefighting) (IMAJAIAG)

akta.pro secondary industries

Marine Navigation Systems (ECDIS, Radar, GNSS, AIS) (IMAJAJAE), Marine Safety & Navigation Electronics Retail (PFDs, EPIRBs, GPS, VHF) (CRAMAIAH)

Keywords

• Marine safety electronics
• Distress beacon systems
• Voyage data recorders
• AIS transponders
• Maritime distress signaling

Headquarters

HQ city

Portsmouth

HQ country

United Kingdom

HQ region

Europe

Offices2 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Hardware or Manufacturing

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. Marine Safety Electronics Hardware: Sale of marine safety equipment including EPIRBs, PLBs, AIS transponders, VHF radios, and Voyage Data Recorders to commercial and recreational maritime vessels
2. Service and Support: Technical support, repairs, returns processing, warranty services, and service manual/bulletin distribution through global service network

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels2 records

Marketing channels4 records

Core offering

Kannad Marine manufactures and supplies marine safety electronics for the global maritime industry, including 406 MHz emergency distress beacons (EPIRBs and Personal Locator Beacons), AIS-based safety devices (AIS SARTs, AIS Man Overboard units, and AIS Class A transponders), marine VHF communications equipment, and Voyage Data Recorders offered via the Netwave brand. The portfolio supports emergency distress signaling, vessel tracking, man overboard detection, voyage data capture, and SOLAS regulatory compliance for commercial ships, professional vessels, and individual maritime users, distributed through a global authorized partner network.

Product overview

Kannad Marine operates as a sub-brand under Seas of Solutions, a maritime technology company focused on marine safety electronics and products. The portfolio consists of emergency distress beacons (EPIRBs, PLBs including the FastFind Return Link RLS PLB), AIS-based safety devices (AIS SART, AIS MOB, SmartFind M6 AIS Class A Transponder, FastFind CREW1 AIS MOB), communications equipment (VHF radios), and Voyage Data Recorders through the Netwave brand. All products are designed to meet SOLAS requirements for maritime safety, with dual GNSS receivers featured across PLB products for accelerated location detection.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• EPIRB (Emergency Position Indicating Radio Beacon) Emergency beacon that transmits distress signals via 406 MHz to search and rescue authorities; part of the SOLAS-required maritime safety equipment portfolio for commercial and professional vessels.
• PLB (Personal Locator Beacon) Personal distress beacons equipped with dual GNSS receivers for accelerated location detection, designed for individual use in emergency situations at sea.
• AIS SART (Search and Rescue Transmitter) Search and rescue transponder that works with AIS-enabled vessels and shore-based stations to locate and assist distressed vessels and personnel.
• AIS MOB (Man Over Board) Man overboard detection device that transmits position via AIS to alert nearby vessels and rescue coordination centers during crew-overboard incidents.
• AIS Electronics Automatic Identification System electronics for vessel tracking, collision avoidance, and maritime navigation safety across commercial and professional fleets.
• VHF (Very High Frequency) Radios Marine VHF radio communications equipment for vessel-to-vessel and vessel-to-shore communications as part of maritime safety systems.
• VDR (Voyage Data Recorder) Voyage Data Recorder for robust data capture on vessels, offered through the Netwave brand, supporting both new build and retrofit vessels with global service network coverage.
• SmartFind M6 AIS Class A Transponder Next generation Class A AIS transponder with IMO SOLAS and EU Inland Waterway certification, compact solution suitable for SOLAS vessels, commercial ships, professional vessels, and non-SOLAS applications.
• FastFind Return Link RLS PLB World's first Return Link Service PLB with dual GNSS receivers for accelerated location detection, providing confirmation to users that their distress signal has been received.
• FastFind CREW1 AIS MOB AIS-based man overboard device designed for crew safety, providing real-time position tracking during man overboard incidents.
• Accessories Supporting equipment and accessories for marine safety electronics including mounts, cables, and complementary hardware.

Segments3 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed Yes

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature5 records

Partnerships

One partnership is on record.

• Distribution and Service PartnerscoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorSeas of Solutions maintains a global network of authorized distribution and service partners for Kannad Marine products, supported by a dedicated Partner Portal resource centre for partner registration, access, and management.

Scale indicators1 record

Recent moves4 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Broad incumbents

• Garmin: Garmin offers marine VHF, AIS, and EPIRB/PLB products as part of a broad consumer and professional marine electronics portfolio. A scaled incumbent competing across multiple of Kannad Marine's product categories with strong brand recognition in recreational segments.
• Furuno: Furuno is a broad incumbent in marine electronics with overlapping AIS, navigation, and radar offerings. Larger and more diversified than Kannad Marine, but shares the commercial and SOLAS vessel customer base across maritime safety categories.
• Raymarine (Teledyne FLIR): Raymarine produces AIS transponders, VHF radios, and integrated marine electronics systems for SOLAS and recreational markets. Competes with Kannad Marine in AIS and communications categories as part of a broader electronics portfolio under Teledyne.

Direct peers

• Icom Incorporated: Icom is a major manufacturer of marine VHF radios and AIS equipment with strong commercial and SOLAS presence. Directly overlaps with Kannad Marine's VHF and AIS product lines and shares similar distribution channels into the maritime safety market.
• Jotron AS: Jotron is a Norwegian maritime safety electronics manufacturer producing EPIRBs, AIS SARTs, and distress beacons for SOLAS vessels. Comparable product portfolio, regulatory certification base, and target customer segments (commercial shipping, offshore).
• ACR Electronics: ACR Electronics is a direct competitor to Kannad Marine, manufacturing EPIRBs, PLBs, AIS MOB devices, and survival equipment for the same SOLAS and recreational maritime segments. Both compete head-to-head in 406 MHz distress beacons and personal safety electronics.
• McMurdo (Seas of Solutions sister brand): McMurdo is a sister brand under the same Seas of Solutions parent, producing the SmartFind M6 AIS Class A transponder and other marine safety electronics. Operationally overlapping but addressing distinct product categories within the shared global service network.
• Ocean Signal: Ocean Signal manufactures EPIRBs, PLBs (including rescueME range), and AIS MOB devices, directly competing with Kannad Marine's beacon portfolio. Strong challenger in the PLB category with comparable dual-GNSS positioning features.
• Netwave (Seas of Solutions sister brand): Netwave is a sister brand under Seas of Solutions producing Voyage Data Recorders (VDRs) for new build and retrofit vessels. Operationally aligned with Kannad Marine under shared global service network and SOLAS-focused portfolio.
• GME / Standard Horizon: GME's Standard Horizon brand produces marine VHF radios, AIS transponders, and EPIRB/PLB products targeting both commercial and recreational segments. Direct overlap with Kannad Marine in VHF and AIS electronics.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• Facebookfacebook.com/kannadmarinebeacons

Compliance2 records

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

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 Kannad Marine