United Navigation

What United Navigation does

United Navigation is a UK-incorporated holding company established in 2007 that owns and operates a group of navigation and maritime data businesses serving commercial shipping, leisure yachting, and naval sectors globally. The group comprises three primary operating brands: Novaco Navigation (founded 1990, technology-driven navigational data delivery), Brookes & Gibson (founded 2004, the world's largest independent distributor of Notices to Mariners and tracings), and Riviera Charts (founded 1979, chartroom management and retail for the superyacht community). The portfolio covers paper and digital charts, nautical publications, passage planning, fleet tracking, and weather forecasting.

The company's core technology platform is the NovacoBridge integrated navigation management suite, delivered through cloud-based services with optional NovacoHub wheelhouse-mounted hardware for cyber-secure chart delivery and vessel tracking. Supporting modules include NovacoPlan (passage planning), ChartViewer (cross-device ENC viewing with ECDIS functionality), NovacoPAYS (pay-per-cell usage pricing), and Novaco Weather (forecast services). Underlying distribution relationships include licenses with the UK Hydrographic Office (Admiralty products), IMO, ITU, British Crown material, and US Federal Agency publications.

The business generates revenue through a mix of recurring digital subscriptions (chart and publication updates, software), one-time paper chart and publication sales, hardware sales of NovacoHub devices, usage-based fees from NovacoPAYS, and maritime publishing. Distribution is executed via a global sales representative and distributor network, cloud-based digital channels, channel partners including chart agents and chandlers, and physical warehouses in Europe and Asia. The company is employee-owned with no external venture capital or private equity disclosed, and operates offices in Bristol (UK headquarters), Singapore, Antibes (France), Athens (Greece), and Wilmington (Delaware, USA).

Name

United Navigation

Legal name

United Navigation

Website

https://unitednavigation.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

2007

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

United Navigation is an employee-owned UK holding company for navigation and maritime data brands (Novaco Navigation, Brookes & Gibson, Riviera Charts), distributing digital and paper charts, nautical publications, and integrated navigation management software to commercial shipping, leisure yachting, and naval customers worldwide.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Headquarters

HQ city

Brentwood

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, Supply Chain, Marketing or Sales

Revenue model

1. Digital Charts and Publications: Sale of ENCs (Electronic Navigation Charts), digital publications, and Admiralty products including AVCS, ADP, AeNP with integrated corrections and updates
2. Paper Charts and Publications: Physical delivery of paper charts and publications to vessels globally, including manual chart corrections, tracings and folio storage via warehouses in Europe and Asia
3. Maritime Publishing: Publishing using official data from national hydrographic offices, flag state and port authorities. Products include Admiralty products (NtMs, tracings), US publications, custom log books, diaries and bespoke manuals
4. Software Subscriptions: NovacoBridge suite and Novaco NB+ web-based access providing navigation management tools, chart ordering, Notices to Mariners, automatic updates and financial control
5. Hardware Sales: NovacoHub wheelhouse-mounted device for navigation data delivery and vessel tracking
6. Pay As You Sail (PAYS): Usage-based charging for ENC charts where customers pay only for chart cells actually sailed over
7. Navigation Data Distribution: E-distribution of navigational data for ECDIS with instant access to weekly updates, electronic catalogues, digital corrections and Instant Permit Service for Admiralty products

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels6 records

Marketing channels4 records

Core offering

United Navigation is a UK-based holding company that operates a group of navigation businesses serving commercial shipping, leisure yachting, superyacht, and naval vessel segments. Through subsidiaries it delivers proprietary navigation software, marine electronics hardware, paper and digital nautical charts, voyage planning and weather routing services, and permit/compliance tools for professional mariners.

Product overview

United Navigation is a holding company for a group of navigation businesses serving the commercial shipping, leisure yachting, and naval sectors. The portfolio is organized around a platform-plus-modules architecture: NovacoBridge serves as the core integrated navigation management solution, with add-on modules including Novaco NB+ (web-based access), NovacoHub (wheelhouse device for data delivery and tracking), NovacoPAYS (pay-per-cell ENC pricing), Novaco Weather (forecasting), NovacoPlan (passage planning), and ChartViewer (ENC viewing with ECDIS functionality). Novaco Navigation operates alongside sub-brands Brookes & Gibson (nautical publications, world's largest independent distributor of Notices to Mariners) and Riviera Charts (chartroom management for superyachts). Core activities focus on distribution of navigation charts and marine publications (paper and digital), voyage passage planning, and maritime publishing.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• Novaco Navigation: The pioneer in navigational data solutions. Provides navigational data and technology solutions to shipping companies and vessels across the world. Includes products such as NovacoBridge, Novaco NB+, NovacoHub, NovacoPAYS, and Novaco Weather.
• Riviera Charts
• Brookes & Gibson

Products and services

• NovacoBridge
• Novaco NB+
• NovacoHub
• NovacoPAYS
• Novaco Weather
• Instant Permit Service
• Riviera Charts
• Brookes & Gibson Publications

Segments3 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed Yes

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Integration3 records

Feature7 records

Partnerships

Nine partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• National Hydrographic OfficescoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorDistribution relationship using official data from national hydrographic offices for nautical publications and chart products.
• Admiralty (UKHO)coreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorDistributor of Admiralty paper and digital products including AVCS, ADP, AeNP, NtMs and standard publications.
• IMO (International Maritime Organization)coreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorDistributor of IMO publications and regulatory information for maritime compliance.
• ITU (International Telecommunication Union)coreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorDistributor of ITU publications for maritime communications compliance.
• Witherby Publishing GroupminorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorDistributor of Witherby publications and maritime titles.
• Flag State AuthoritiescoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnership with flag state authorities for official data compilation and distribution of regulatory publications.
• Port AuthoritiescoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnership with port authorities for official data compilation and distribution of Notices to Mariners and port-specific navigation information.
• British CrowncoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorLicensed to distribute British Crown material including Admiralty nautical publications.
• US Federal AgenciescoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorLicensed to distribute US Federal Agency publications including CFRs, tide tables, 515s and sailing directions.

Scale indicators5 records

Recent moves7 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Broad incumbents

• Furuno Electric: Japanese marine electronics manufacturer with broad navigation, communication, and fishing product lines serving commercial and leisure sectors. Overlaps with United Navigation in supplying navigation equipment and chart solutions to fleets and superyachts.
• Sperry Marine (Northrop Grumman): Established manufacturer of marine navigation electronics including ECDIS, radar, and integrated bridge systems for naval and commercial markets. Broader portfolio than United Navigation but overlaps in commercial shipping navigation solutions.
• JRC (Japan Radio Co.): Japanese marine electronics OEM offering ECDIS, radar, and integrated bridge systems primarily to commercial and naval fleets. Larger and more vertically integrated manufacturer than United Navigation but serves overlapping customers.
• Wärtsilä Voyage (Transas): Major marine technology incumbent offering ECDIS, fleet operations, and navigation software as part of a broader smart marine portfolio. Competes with United Navigation across ECDIS integration and voyage management but at significantly larger scale.

Direct peers

• ChartWorld: German-based e-navigation company providing digital chart management, route planning, and fleet monitoring software. Directly comparable to NovacoBridge in functionality and customer overlap with commercial shipping operators.
• Navtor: Norwegian e-navigation specialist offering digital chart distribution, pay-as-you-sail ENC licensing, and passage planning software to commercial shipping. Most direct head-to-head competitor to Novaco's NAVTOR Pay-As-You-Sail-style pricing model and e-navigation suite.
• Mapmedia (C-map): Provider of digital vector charts, ENC data, and navigation software to leisure, commercial, and superyacht markets. Directly comparable to Novaco on chart content distribution and leisure/superyacht customer base.
• Voyager Worldwide (Ocean Technologies Group): Maritime software provider offering digital charts, publications, e-learning, and onboard navigation data management to commercial fleets. Competes with United Navigation on digital chart distribution and vessel data workflow tools.

Others

• UK Hydrographic Office (UKHO): UK government agency producing the Admiralty charts, publications, and NtMs that United Navigation distributes. Critical content partner rather than competitor, but vertical integration or alternative distribution strategies by UKHO would directly affect United Navigation's position.

Emerging players

• Maris (Maritime Information Systems): Norwegian maritime software firm providing digital charts, route planning, and fleet operations tools to commercial and offshore operators. Comparable technology stack and target segments to Novaco, with growing share in offshore and smaller commercial fleets.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• Facebookfacebook.com/profile.php
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/united-navigation-rc

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Subsidiaries4 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 United Navigation