MPC Capital and Wilhelmsen Ship Management combine vessel IT expertise to create joint venture company Waterway IT, a dedicated global maritime technology provider. By bringing together the vessel IT activities of both partners on a single global platform, Waterway IT will operate as an independent provider of onboard IT solutions with worldwide reach starting 1 April 2026.
Addressing a structural market shift
With its market approach, Waterway IT is responding to a structural shift in the maritime industry. As vessels become increasingly connected and digitally integrated, onboard IT infrastructure has evolved into a mission-critical component of modern fleet operations. Cybersecurity, reliable connectivity, regulatory compliance, and the seamless integration of digital applications now form the backbone of safe and efficient vessel management.
Sondre Mortensvik, Chief Executive Officer of Waterway IT, comments: “The maritime industry is undergoing a fundamental digital shift. Reliable and secure onboard IT infrastructure is essential for modern vessel operations. With Waterway IT, we are creating a global platform with the scale and expertise to support customers in this transformation.”
Building a global one-stop provider
Waterway IT combines maritime operational expertise with enterprise-grade IT services to deliver a fully managed vessel IT environment for modern fleets. The company provides a modular vessel IT stack, hybrid connectivity, cybersecurity and global support as an integrated service. All systems are specifically designed for maritime operations and centrally managed across the fleet.
Florian zum Felde, Chief Commercial Officer of Waterway IT, adds: “Our approach removes one of the biggest challenges for shipowners: managing complex and fragmented onboard IT systems. Instead of dealing with multiple vendors, inconsistent systems and unpredictable IT costs, customers receive a standardised and fully managed IT environment from a single provider.”
With this approach, Waterway IT enables shipping companies to focus on their core business while we ensure that their digital infrastructure at sea runs securely, reliably and efficiently.
Strong operational platform with global reach
At launch, Waterway IT will serve approximately 400 vessels across some 70 customers, supported by a team of 45 IT professionals. The company operates from key maritime and technology hubs in Hamburg, Oslo, Kuala Lumpur, Manila, and Bangalore, ensuring global coverage with local execution and 24/7 support capabilities.
The management team comprises of
- Sondre Mortensvik, Chief Executive Officer (Oslo)
- Florian zum Felde, Chief Commercial Officer (Hamburg)
- Jason See, Chief Operating Officer (Kuala Lumpur)
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