UniSea announced the acquisition of Berlin-based Kaiko Systems, an AI-powered frontline intelligence company for the maritime industry. The combination brings together two complementary software providers serving more than 4,000 vessels globally, with UniSea contributing its HSEQ, maintenance, procurement, and dry-docking platform and Kaiko Systems adding AI-driven inspection and compliance capabilities.
Founded in 2020 by Fabian Fussek and Eddy del Valle, Kaiko Systems provides mobile-first software for vessel inspections, SIRE 2.0 self-assessments, port state control preparation, and vessel health monitoring. The platform supports more than 1,000 vessels and uses artificial intelligence and proprietary computer vision technologies for tasks such as document detection, image verification, and corrosion detection. UniSea said Kaiko will continue operating as a distinct product with its own team and roadmap while integrating with the broader UniSea platform.
The transaction was financed through a significant capital injection from Adelis Equity, which became the majority owner of UniSea in 2022. Since then, UniSea has expanded its platform organically and through acquisitions, including the purchase of dry-docking software company Maindeck in 2023. The company said the acquisition of Kaiko represents another step in its transition from an HSEQ specialist to a full-suite fleet management software provider.
UniSea executives said the deal reflects growing demand from shipowners for integrated technology platforms rather than disconnected software products. The combined organization plans to accelerate artificial intelligence initiatives and continue adding specialized SaaS solutions that complement its existing portfolio.
KEY QUOTES:
“This acquisition strengthens our position, broadening the FMS suite while keeping the customer-driven, specialised approach that got us here. Kaiko adds comprehensive frontline inspections to the group and is a natural next step in UniSea’s transition from HSEQ specialist to full-suite FMS provider. We are now very excited about what we can achieve together with Kaiko for our customers and the broader maritime market.”
Kurt Roar Vilhelmsen, Founder and CEO, UniSea
“Over the past five years, we have built a platform with unique capabilities that are unmatched by anyone else in this industry. We got here with a team of motivated technology and maritime specialists who brought fresh thinking from outside maritime and combined it with deep industry expertise. That combination is what gave us a different perspective and a new approach to the inspection problem, and this acquisition is a testament to the hard work the team has put in to make it real.”
“Joining UniSea is the right next step for the ambition we set out with: structured digital inspection data as the standard for the maritime industry. Our customers gain a long-term owner with deep maritime credibility, an aligned product vision, and the resources to invest further in what we have built. For our customers, the product and the people behind it stay the same. For our team, this is continuity and acceleration at the same time.”
Fabian Fussek, Co-Founder and CEO, Kaiko Systems
“Backing UniSea has been a real privilege, and we are proud to extend that partnership for the long term as Kaiko joins to form UniSea Group. Together we can create even more value for our customers, and we look forward to supporting the management team in building something distinctive for the maritime industry over the years to come.”
Jørgen Møinichen, Director, Adelis Equity
“Each product is designed for a specific job and we want both to remain best in class at what they do. What we are building together is the opportunity for customers to connect them where they unlock the most value, while preserving the specialist depth that has made each product successful on its own.”
“This partnership will further accelerate our AI initiatives and help our customers automate their operations, increase efficiency, and reduce costs, giving UniSea a meaningful step up in applied AI for maritime operations.”
Dagfinn Rasmussen, COO, UniSea
