In 2015, after 20 years in the marine industries, marine engineer Michael Gordon Johnson set out to retool the world’s vessel operations with advanced technologies to move beyond the ever-present and too-often catastrophic problems associated with reliance on manual control and human perception. At the time, autonomous technology was already in use aboard aircraft and hundreds of millions of dollars had been invested in autonomy for the automotive industries. The ocean industries needed a visionary and leader: Sea Machines was born.

The company took root along the water in Boston, a leading technology and robotics hub, and it has continued its steady growth since.

Sea Machines has grown from a small tech startup to a recognized industry leader. In 2017, the company raised $1.4M in seed financing, which funded development of it’s early concept technology. Since then, the company has raised over $30M more from leading investors such as Toyota Ventures, Huntington Ingalls, Brunswick Corporation, Accomplice, Dolby Fund and others. Sea Machines launched the first commercially available line of products in January 2019 and became one of the world’s only autonomy companies serving vehicles weighing over one ton with products on the market. Sea Machines has been contracted to deliver advanced technology and products by some of the world’s most recognized companies and organizations on water, from A.P. Moller-Maersk to the U.S. Department of Transportation and the U.S. Navy. With a steadfast determination to achieve success, Sea Machines is charting the course to a world where most vessels are controlled by artificial intelligence.

Our industry is a significant component of the global economy. Along with people, processes and capital, technology is a key driver in keeping it strong and relevant. The world around us is being revolutionized by intelligent and autonomous technology, and we find ourselves just beyond the starting line of broad adoption. Expect to see Sea Machines as one of the most significant companies serving the industry in the 21st century.