Sources : https://www.keelspot.com/extra-component/old-home

For decades, the maritime industry has had large amounts of unused vessel capacity on coastal routes. According to Keelspot’s founder, many ships were operating with 30-40% unused capacity along Europe’s coastlines. Keelspot was founded to address this gap: to digitise and simplify the process of matching cargo owners with available capacity on vessels, thereby modernising a largely analogue and fragmented segment of shipping. It was the founder’s 20 years at sea that made him aware of these inefficiencies and motivated the venture.

Keelspot is a Norwegian startup based in Bergen founded by Svein Arild Vatsø, that has built a digital platform to transform short-sea or coastal shipping . Their online marketplace connects cargo owners with vessels that have unused capacity, aiming to reduce inefficiencies, lower cost, increase vessel utilisation, and support sustainability.  By targeting the “empty miles” of vessels and shifting freight from road to Sea where possible, Keelspot positions itself as part of the green logistics transition. They aim to serve the European market (and potentially beyond) for coastal shipping, such as between ports in the same country or across adjacent countries. 

Sources : https://www.keelspot.com/blog/keelspot-revolutionizing-freight-with-tinder-for-vessels 

The platform bridges a long-standing gap in the maritime industry where ships often sail partially empty while cargo owners struggle to find available space by digitizing and automating the freight-matching process. Through Keelspot’s web interface, cargo owners can easily enter shipment details such as cargo type, weight, destination, and preferred time frame. The system then uses intelligent algorithms to identify vessels operating along matching or nearby routes that have spare capacity. This dynamic matching ensures efficient use of vessel space, reduces empty mileage, and minimizes the time vessels spend waiting at ports.

For shipowners and operators, Keelspot provides tools to list vessel routes, manage schedules, and showcase available capacity to potential customers. The platform allows them to update voyage information in real time, receive booking requests instantly, and optimize their route planning based on cargo opportunities. This not only increases utilization rates but also improves profitability by turning unused capacity into revenue. Additionally, Keelspot integrates features such as digital documentation, real-time communication, and transparent transaction management, reducing the manual paperwork and fragmented communication that have long plagued the coastal shipping industry.

Keelspot’s system is built with sustainability at its core. By shifting cargo transportation from trucks to ships along coastal routes, the platform contributes significantly to emission reduction; studies suggest that moving freight by sea can reduce CO₂ emissions by up to 80% compared to road transport. This aligns with global efforts to create greener logistics solutions and alleviate road congestion across Europe. The platform also supports the European Union’s goals for sustainable transport by promoting short-sea shipping as a viable, low-emission alternative.

Currently focusing on the European maritime market, Keelspot caters to cargo owners, freight forwarders, and ship operators who engage in cross-border or domestic coastal trade. The company’s “Tinder for vessels” concept not only modernizes a traditionally analogue industry but also enhances visibility, efficiency, and collaboration across the entire logistics chain. In essence, Keelspot’s product combines maritime expertise, digital technology, and environmental awareness to deliver a comprehensive solution that transforms the way coastal shipping is managed and executed.

Sarsia Seed Fond II AS (based in Bergen, Norway) is a key early investor in Keelspot, holding about 15.53 % of the shares. Validé Invest II AS (based in Stavanger region, Norway) is also an investor, holding roughly 6.44 % of the company. All in, publicly available data suggests the company’s total funding  from private investors is about US$ 700k with a further US$ 500k from grants and soft funding

Final Thoughts

Keelspot is an interesting and promising example of how digital transformation can (and perhaps must) enter even traditionally analogue industries like coastal shipping. By creating a real-time marketplace that matches cargo owners with vessels that have unused capacity, the startup addresses both economic inefficiencies (unused vessel capacity, high road-freight costs, congestion) and environmental imperatives (shifting freight from road to sea, lowering emissions).

The founder’s direct maritime experience gives the company credibility, and the backing from local Norwegian venture/seed investors indicates that the Nordic ecosystem sees value in the model.
However, the company is still in early stage: the publicly available funding is modest, and it remains to be seen how the business model scales, how many routes and customers it secures, and whether the transformation of short-sea shipping will prosper at the required pace. As Keelspot aims to raise further capital (e.g., US$ 2 million for expansion), the next 12-24 months will likely be critical: execution, customer traction, and evidence of cost/emission savings will determine whether the startup can become a major player in the European coastal shipping segment. In short, Keelspot is positioning itself at the confluence of logistics, sustainability and digitisation, and while still early, it is one to watch in the maritime/logistics tech space.

References

Keelspot. (2024). About Keelspot.  https://www.keelspot.com/about

Keelspot. (2024). Short-sea shipping: A global solution for sustainable coastal trade.  https://www.keelspot.com/blog/short-sea-shipping-a-global-solution-for-sustainable-coastal-trade

Keelspot. (2024). Keelspot: Revolutionizing freight with Tinder for vessels.  https://www.keelspot.com/blog/keelspot-revolutionizing-freight-with-tinder-for-vessels

A2Media. (2024). HM 01-2024 V2 Lowres (pp. 40–42).  https://www.a2media.no/media/ro5pgcsm/hm-01-2024-v2-lowres-1.pdf

Mainsights. (2023). Norwegian freight marketplace startup Keelspot looks to secure NOK 25M for expansion.  https://www.mainsights.io/ma-news/norwegian-freight-marketplace-startup-keelspot-looks-to-secure-nok-25m-for-expansion

PitchBook. (2023). Keelspot company profile.  https://pitchbook.com/profiles/company/515722-42

Proff. (2024). Keelspot AS – shareholders.  https://www.proff.no/aksjon%C3%A6rer/-/keelspot-as/926861077

Sarsia. (2024). Portfolio: Keelspot.  https://sarsia.com/portfolio/keelspot

Shifter. (2023, November 21). Før slepte han yachten til Røkke – nå vil han skape Airbnb for frakt på sjøen.  https://www.shifter.no/nyheter/for-slepte-han-yachten-til-rokke-na-vil-han-skape-airbnb-for-frakt-pa-sjoen/319429

Contributor : Dyah Ayuning Tyas

Reviewer      : Imam Buchari