Zeabuz :: Intelligent Autonomy Software & Motion Control Systems For Commercial, Urban & Naval Vessels

Zeabuz is a Norwegian maritime technology company specializing in intelligent autonomy software and motion control systems for commercial, urban, and naval vessels. Founded by a team of autonomy experts from the Norwegian University of Science and Technology (NTNU), Zeabuz has established itself as a pioneer in practical maritime autonomy. The company launched the world’s first autonomous commercial passenger ferry (MF Estelle in Stockholm with Torghatten) and continues to push boundaries with dual-use solutions that serve both civilian maritime transport and defense and security applications. Its vision is to deliver “the experience of a thousand seafarers on every ship,” enabling safer, more energy-efficient, and cost-effective operations by encoding expert maritime knowledge into software. Headquartered in Trondheim with offices in Oslo and Stockholm, Zeabuz has grown rapidly, securing substantial funding (including a NOK 40 million round in 2026), winning multiple innovation awards, and forming partnerships with major players such as Damen Shipyards, Yinson GreenTech, Grieg Kapital, Trafikverket, and various research institutions. The company emphasizes real-world deployability, sensor fusion, situational awareness, and scalable platforms that reduce fuel consumption, crew dependency, collision risks, and operational costs while increasing uptime and standardizing performance.

Zeabuz’s robot-based products focus on advanced autonomous navigation and control systems rather than physical robotic hardware. The flagship product is ZeaMate, an intelligent self-sailing autonomy core that can pilot any vessel. It automates navigation, route planning, situational awareness, obstacle detection, and collision avoidance using multi-sensor fusion that integrates with existing ship sensors such as radar and AIS. ZeaMate offloads routine tasks from crew, optimizes speed profiles for energy savings, supports leaner crewing models, and bridges knowledge gaps through vessel-to-shore cooperation. It is designed for easy retrofit or newbuild integration across segments including urban passenger ferries, road ferries, workboats, unmanned surface vehicles (USVs), fishing vessels, and aquaculture support. Key capabilities include optimal route planning, autonomous control in complex environments, and seamless upgrade paths to higher levels of autonomy.

Complementing ZeaMate is ZeaControl, a comprehensive motion control system originally developed to provide precision for autonomy but now offered as a standalone product. It delivers high-accuracy station-keeping (centimeter-level), loitering, autopilot with no-drift mode, trackpilot for waypoint following, joystick control with side-stepping, and weather vaning. Upgradeable modules add collision avoidance, autodocking, and autocrossing for just-in-time arrivals. ZeaControl enhances human-operated vessels today while serving as a future-ready foundation for full autonomy, making it ideal for smaller vessels and large fleets alike. For USVs, the platform acts as a force multiplier, enabling remote instruction, mid-mission adaptation, and autonomous navigation with reduced oversight.

Zeabuz solutions have been proven in high-profile deployments, such as the emission-free autonomous ferry in Stockholm, virtual cable ferry projects in Åland, net-zero ferry initiatives in Sweden, and numerous trials for urban shuttles, road ferries, and defense applications. The technology supports remote supervisory control, simulation-based testing and verification (including partnerships with DNV and Singapore Institute of Technology), and integration with electric propulsion systems. Recent expansions into defense and security, satellite intelligence fusion, and inland waterway applications demonstrate the platform’s versatility. By combining deep domain expertise, advanced algorithms for motion planning and human-machine teaming, and a commitment to safety and certification, Zeabuz is accelerating the transition to smarter, greener, and more resilient maritime operations worldwide. Its scalable, dual-use autonomy platform positions the company at the forefront of the growing maritime robotics and autonomous systems industry.