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Signal Ocean announces strategic acquisition of AXSMarine to accelerate innovation in shipping.
Paris & London 28th Jan - Signal Ocean announces the strategic acquisition of AXSMarine, a recognized leader in the maritime freight and commodities tracking space. The move reflects Signal's commitment to advancing technology, innovation, and collaboration across the global shipping ecosystem.
Signal Ocean has long held deep respect for the market structure and dynamics of the Shipping industry, as well as for the many companies contributing to its continued evolution. AXSMarine has built an outstanding suite of products with amazing market adoption. This investment underscores a shared belief in the partnership’s long-term potential and the value it will deliver to our industry.
"We have immense respect for AXSMarine’ s achievements - both in the strength of its products, like AXSDry and Alphaliner, and its position in the market" said Ioannis Martinos, CEO of Signal Ocean. "This investment and partnership is rooted in a shared vision: to build technology and provide quality data that enhance the way our industry operates. Together, we aim to push the boundaries of innovation, deepen collaboration across market participants, and deliver solutions that truly serve the community across prefixing, postfixing and commodities tracking. For our clients, this will mean more robust data and faster feature development". The combined product portfolio extends beyond the primary offerings to also include AXSMarine affiliate Next Voyage Maritime Pte. and Signal Ocean affiliate Shiplex S.A., who develop voyage and ship management ERP solutions. Together, the group now supports a community of more than 1,500 clients.
Signal Ocean also reaffirmed the importance of its broader network of partnerships, including its valued relationship with BRS, a leading shipbroking group which remains a long-term satisfied client of both the Signal Ocean and AXSMarine solutions. The companies will continue developing and strengthening their partnership to create greater alignment and improve efficiency for users across the sector.
"Signal Ocean 's investment is a strong endorsement of our mission." said Gilbert Walter, CEO of BRS Group. "We are pleased with our decision to transfer the destiny of AXSMarine to Signal Ocean, a company that truly understands shipping, comes from within the industry, and has consistently demonstrated deep respect for its people and its evolution. Reflecting BRS Group’s confidence in this union, we have decided to invest in Signal Ocean and participate in its board."
"I'm very proud of what we've achieved so far, and as we look toward the future of our combined forces, I'm excited to be part of this next chapter in our journey." said Jacques Goudchaux, AXSMarine CEO. "In this next phase, my goal is to ensure our values stay at the core of every decision, and that we continue creating meaningful impact for our customers, partners, and each other. Our alignment and shared vision will improve and accelerate our ability to serve our markets together for the benefit of our clients".
As quality data and technology continue being essential to the global freight and commodities tracking space, this partnership represents a collective step forward - combining deep domain expertise with a forward-thinking approach to innovation.
BRS has been advised by:
Amala Partners as exclusive financial advisor
ASEMLEX as legal advisor
CMS France as tax advisor
CMS UK as UK legal advisor
Forvis Mazars as financial vendor due diligence provider
Signal has been advised by:
Bredin Prat as legal and tax advisor
Kerameus & Partners as legal advisor
Latham & Watkins as UK legal advisor
PWC France as legal, financial and tax advisor
About Signal Ocean - Signal Ocean is the technology arm of The Signal Group and the creator of the Signal Ocean Platform. The platform enables charterers, brokers, and shipowners to securely process, combine, and analyze a complex array of private and public data on shipping and commodities. Powered by a rich set of machine learning and artificial intelligence technologies, Signal Ocean processes available data to deliver customized, exclusive insights for smarter, faster, and more informed decision-making.
Established in 2014 with offices in London, Athens, and Singapore, The Signal Group is a diversified shipping services organization supported by a world-class mix of commercial shipping professionals, product managers, data scientists, and engineers. The wider group operates Signal Maritime Services, which combines best-in-class commercial ship management with in-anger use of advanced analytics to run a leading Aframax tanker pool, and Signal Ventures, a strategic investment arm focused on incubating, accelerating and investing in next-generation shipping software and technology.
About AXSMarine - AXSMarine offers a complete suite of interactive, web-based tools and databases to support all commercial ship chartering activities. These integrated solutions enable shipbrokers, operators, owners, charterers, research firms, and financial institutions to streamline complex chartering processes across the Dry Bulk, Tanker, Gas, Liner, and Containership markets. By maintaining the most up-to-date databases in the industry, AXSMarine converts an overwhelming amount of raw data into accessible, searchable, and actionable insights for swift and precise decision-making.
Founded in 2000, AXSMarine is a global provider of sophisticated software solutions serving the international shipping industry, earning the trust of over 18,000 users worldwide. The company delivers unparalleled efficiency through its specialized Ship Chartering & Freight Solutions and deep Commodity Flows & Maritime Data Insights, reflecting a dedication to security, speed, and reliability in every tool designed.
Creating a sustainable world requires us to embark on a journey towards a zero emission future, where every step is a commitment to preserve our planet for future generations.
Albert Greenway
Environmental Scientist, Sustainability Expert
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Increased Use of Renewable Energy:
Shipping companies are embracing renewable energy sources to power onboard systems and reduce emissions during port operations. Solar panels and wind turbines are being installed on vessels to generate clean energy, reducing reliance on auxiliary engines, and cutting down emissions. Shore power facilities in ports allow ships to connect to the electrical grid, eliminating the need for onboard generators while docked.
Collaboration and Industry Partnerships:
Recognizing that addressing emissions requires collective action, shipping companies, governments, and organizations have formed partnerships and collaborations. These initiatives focus on research and development, sharing best practices, and promoting knowledge transfer. Joint projects aim to develop and deploy innovative technologies, improve infrastructure, and create a supportive regulatory framework to accelerate the industry's transition towards a greener future. The Zero Emission Shipping - Mission Innovation.
To pave the way for a greener future in shipping, the availability of alternative fuels plays a vital role in their widespread adoption. However, this availability is influenced by factors such as port infrastructure, local regulations, and government policies. As the demand for cleaner fuels in shipping rises and environmental regulations become more stringent, efforts are underway to improve the accessibility of these fuels through infrastructure development, collaborations, and investments in production facilities.
Liquefied Natural Gas (LNG) infrastructure has seen significant growth in recent years, resulting in more LNG bunkering facilities and LNG-powered vessels. Nonetheless, the availability of LNG as a marine fuel can still vary depending on the region. To ensure consistent availability worldwide, there is a need for further development of LNG supply chains and infrastructure. For biofuels, their availability hinges on production capacity and the availability of feedstock. Although biofuels are being produced and utilized in various sectors, their availability as a marine fuel remains limited. Scaling up biofuel production and establishing robust supply chains are imperative to ensure wider availability within the shipping industry.Hydrogen, as a fuel for maritime applications, is still in the early stages of infrastructure development. While some hydrogen vessels have been tested or introduced in the first quarter of last year, the infrastructure required for hydrogen production and distribution needs further advancement.
Ammonia, as a marine fuel, currently faces limitations in availability. The production, storage, and handling infrastructure for ammonia need further development to support its widespread use in the shipping industry.Methanol, on the other hand, is already a commercially available fuel and has been used as a blend with conventional fuels in some ships. However, its availability as a standalone marine fuel can still be limited in certain regions. Bureau Veritas in October 2022 published a White Paper for the Alternative Fuels Outlook. This white paper provides a comprehensive overview of alternative fuels for the shipping industry, taking into account key factors such as technological maturity, availability, safety, emissions, and regulations.
Creating a sustainable world requires us to embark on a journey towards a zero emission future, where every step is a commitment to preserve our planet for future generations.
Albert Greenway
Environmental Scientist, Sustainability Expert
Increased Use of Renewable Energy:
Shipping companies are embracing renewable energy sources to power onboard systems and reduce emissions during port operations. Solar panels and wind turbines are being installed on vessels to generate clean energy, reducing reliance on auxiliary engines, and cutting down emissions. Shore power facilities in ports allow ships to connect to the electrical grid, eliminating the need for onboard generators while docked.
Collaboration and Industry Partnerships:
Recognizing that addressing emissions requires collective action, shipping companies, governments, and organizations have formed partnerships and collaborations. These initiatives focus on research and development, sharing best practices, and promoting knowledge transfer. Joint projects aim to develop and deploy innovative technologies, improve infrastructure, and create a supportive regulatory framework to accelerate the industry's transition towards a greener future. The Zero Emission Shipping - Mission Innovation.
To pave the way for a greener future in shipping, the availability of alternative fuels plays a vital role in their widespread adoption. However, this availability is influenced by factors such as port infrastructure, local regulations, and government policies. As the demand for cleaner fuels in shipping rises and environmental regulations become more stringent, efforts are underway to improve the accessibility of these fuels through infrastructure development, collaborations, and investments in production facilities.
Liquefied Natural Gas (LNG) infrastructure has seen significant growth in recent years, resulting in more LNG bunkering facilities and LNG-powered vessels. Nonetheless, the availability of LNG as a marine fuel can still vary depending on the region. To ensure consistent availability worldwide, there is a need for further development of LNG supply chains and infrastructure. For biofuels, their availability hinges on production capacity and the availability of feedstock. Although biofuels are being produced and utilized in various sectors, their availability as a marine fuel remains limited. Scaling up biofuel production and establishing robust supply chains are imperative to ensure wider availability within the shipping industry.Hydrogen, as a fuel for maritime applications, is still in the early stages of infrastructure development. While some hydrogen vessels have been tested or introduced in the first quarter of last year, the infrastructure required for hydrogen production and distribution needs further advancement.
Ammonia, as a marine fuel, currently faces limitations in availability. The production, storage, and handling infrastructure for ammonia need further development to support its widespread use in the shipping industry.Methanol, on the other hand, is already a commercially available fuel and has been used as a blend with conventional fuels in some ships. However, its availability as a standalone marine fuel can still be limited in certain regions. Bureau Veritas in October 2022 published a White Paper for the Alternative Fuels Outlook. This white paper provides a comprehensive overview of alternative fuels for the shipping industry, taking into account key factors such as technological maturity, availability, safety, emissions, and regulations.