Quartermaster AI is putting sensor-equipped vessels at the heart of a $140m expansion of its maritime data network, with more than 650 vessels across 25 countries already connected. The company says the new capital will expand its engineering team and add vessels to improve real-world data coverage across commercial shipping lanes and fishing grounds.
Quartermaster AI is expanding its vessel-based maritime data network with a $140m funding round, using onboard sensors to build a live data layer across commercial shipping and fishing activity.
The company said the financing comprises a $100m Series B led by Insight Partners, with new participation from Overmatch Ventures, alongside a $40m venture debt facility from Stifel. Existing investors including First Round Capital, Quiet Capital, Steel Atlas, TMV, BoxGroup and Operator Partners also returned to the round.
Quartermaster’s network currently covers more than 650 vessels across 25 countries. Its SmartMast system provides participating operators with hardware, installation and support, while collecting sensor data from vessels operating at sea.
The technology gives vessel operators access to their own feeds, route hazard alerts and broadband connectivity. Quartermaster also uses the resulting network data to provide information to insurers, fleets and energy operators.
Neil Sobin, CEO of Quartermaster AI, said the company is building a data infrastructure that addresses gaps in conventional maritime information sources.
“AIS is a ship announcing itself. Satellite navigation is a calculation derived from transmissions. RF geolocation is triangulation based on radio emissions. Orbital imaging is a snapshot from overhead, delivered after the fact,” Sobin wrote.
Quartermaster’s approach places physical sensing equipment aboard vessels rather than relying solely on signals or imagery collected remotely. Sobin said the network has been built “one vessel at a time”, with most participating vessels operated by smaller companies.
The company plans to use the new funding to recruit more vessels and expand engineering capacity. That will give shipowners and managers access to a wider technology network while generating a larger pool of operational data from vessels at sea.
“There is no way to get it from orbit and no way to model your way to it. Somebody has to go out there on the water and build it,” Sobin wrote.
The strategy places vessel-generated data at the heart of Quartermaster’s digital proposition, with potential applications across maritime safety, fleet operations, insurance and wider ocean intelligence.
