Scorpa's Tech @ Sea

D-ICE Engineering: Navigating the Deeptech Frontier in Maritime Decarbonisation & Intelligent Navigation

4–6 minutes

Image credit: dice-engineering.com

The maritime industry is under increasing pressure to reduce greenhouse gas emissions, cut fuel costs, and improve operational safety, yet traditional navigation and propulsion systems often fall short in addressing these challenges. Poor weather routing, limited integration between onboard systems, and reliance on outdated methods can lead to excessive fuel consumption, higher emissions, and greater safety risks, particularly in harsh offshore environments. 

To bridge this gap, advanced technologies such as those developed by D-ICE Engineering are essential, providing digital twin simulations, optimized routing, and integrated control systems that enable vessels to operate more efficiently, safely, and sustainably while supporting the industry’s transition toward greener propulsion solutions like wind-assisted and hybrid systems.

D-ICE Engineering was founded in 2015 in Nantes, France, by a team of engineers and scientists with expertise in hydrodynamics, applied mathematics, robotics, and artificial intelligence, who shared a vision of transforming maritime navigation and operations through advanced digital technologies. The company is currently led by Sofien Kerkeni, who serves as Chief Executive Officer and guides its strategy toward international growth and innovation in decarbonization solutions for shipping. With strong academic and industrial backgrounds, the founders built the company on a deeptech foundation, combining research-driven methods with practical maritime applications, enabling D-ICE to become a trusted partner for shipowners, offshore operators, and renewable energy stakeholders seeking smarter and greener solutions.

In August 2024, D-ICE Engineering successfully raised €6 million in a Series A funding round led by SWEN Capital Partners’ Blue Ocean fund, with participation from MER Invest, Atlantique Vendée Innovation, Pays de la Loire Participations, Pays de la Loire Développement, and Sodero Gestion. This investment marked a significant milestone for the French deeptech startup, providing the financial strength to accelerate its international expansion and further develop its flagship navigation and control technologies. Prior to this, the company also benefited from regional support programs and R&D subsidies, which helped lay the groundwork for scaling its solutions in fuel efficiency, digital navigation, and wind-assisted vessel operations. The infusion of capital not only reflects investor confidence in the company’s potential but also highlights the growing importance of sustainable technologies in the maritime sector.

D-ICE Engineering’s solutions are centered around its flagship product OCEANiCS, a modular navigation and control system that integrates electronic chart display, autopilot, dynamic positioning, weather routing, and digital twin simulations into a single platform. By combining these functions, the technology helps seafarers make safer and more informed decisions in real time, particularly when navigating through harsh weather or complex offshore environments. For shipping companies, the system delivers measurable benefits in fuel efficiency cutting consumption by up to 20% on conventional vessels and even more on wind-assisted ships thereby reducing operational costs and ensuring compliance with tightening emissions regulations. Beyond cost savings, OCEANiCS also extends vessel lifespan through optimized performance management, while additional tools like TACTiCS routing software provide further support in voyage planning and emissions reduction, making the company’s solutions valuable for both daily operations and long-term fleet sustainability strategies.

D-ICE Engineering’s technology, particularly its OCEANiCS system, works by integrating real-time data, advanced algorithms, and digital twin models to optimize vessel navigation and control. The system is deployed globally across cargo vessels, offshore service ships, and wind-assisted fleets at a time when the maritime sector faces strict decarbonization targets and rising fuel costs. Its purpose is to reduce emissions, enhance safety, and support the adoption of hybrid or wind-propelled vessels, which traditional systems struggle to manage effectively. The technology functions by collecting sensor and weather data, running predictive simulations through digital twins, and then using routing and control algorithms to suggest or automatically implement the best navigational strategies. This process allows vessels to adjust speed, course, and propulsion settings dynamically, ensuring optimal fuel use, compliance with regulations, and improved resilience in challenging marine environments.

One of the most notable study cases of D-ICE Engineering’s technology is its role in the Neoliner project, a 136-meter sailing cargo ship that relies heavily on wind propulsion, where OCEANiCS provides advanced routing and control systems to maximize fuel savings and safety. Similar applications can be seen in the Canopée vessel, which integrates wind-assisted propulsion and benefits from D-ICE’s solutions to manage hybrid navigation challenges. Beyond these flagship projects, the technology is increasingly used in offshore wind operations, where precise positioning and weather-based decision-making are critical for safety and efficiency. It also supports retrofitting older vessels, enabling operators to improve fuel performance and comply with strict decarbonization regulations without the need for costly new builds. These diverse use cases demonstrate how the company’s systems can be adapted to both pioneering green shipping projects and the modernization of existing fleets, highlighting their versatility across different.

D-ICE Engineering has built strong partnerships and collaborations that reinforce its position as a key player in maritime innovation, working with pioneering projects such as Neoliner and Canopée to provide advanced navigation and control solutions for wind-assisted cargo vessels. The company has also collaborated with offshore wind energy operators and research institutions like École Centrale de Nantes to refine its digital twin and hydrodynamic modeling capabilities. Backed by regional development funds and major investors such as SWEN Capital Partners’ Blue Ocean fund, D-ICE has secured the trust of more than 80 clients and equipped over 25 vessels with its systems, demonstrating both commercial traction and industry confidence. These strategic relationships not only validate the company’s technology but also accelerate the adoption of sustainable maritime solutions across shipping, offshore operations, and renewable energy sectors.

References

Leave a comment

Trending