The maritime industry plays a vital role in keeping global trade moving. Yet it still depends heavily on one of the oldest digital tools: email. Every day, maritime companies exchange thousands of emails containing essential operational details—from vessel schedules to cargo updates. But the sheer volume of unstructured communication often leads to information overload, causing delays, errors, and inefficiencies. That’s where London-based Sedna Communications comes in.
The company has just raised $10 million in debt financing from CIBC Innovation Banking to expand its mission of transforming maritime communication. With this funding, Sedna plans to strengthen its AI-driven platform, increase its integration capabilities, and fuel its global growth.
Founded in 2017 by industry veteran Bill Dobie, Sedna is already redefining how maritime businesses collaborate and make decisions. Dobie, who previously launched marine software startups Navarik and Stage 3 Systems, saw firsthand how fragmented email-based communication was holding the sector back. With Sedna, he’s created a centralized communication ecosystem built not just to send messages—but to drive smarter, faster operations.
Despite its outdated nature, email remains the backbone of communication across the maritime and logistics industries. Multiple time zones, a wide array of stakeholders. And the lack of standardized tools all contribute to the sector’s reliance on email. But this creates a major bottleneck.
Sedna solves this by using AI to analyze and extract critical data from even the most unstructured email content. Whether it’s a vessel name buried in a message or a cargo update sent at midnight. Sedna can identify and link relevant data to core systems like SAP or Veson Nautical. This creates a unified digital workspace that saves time and reduces the need to toggle between multiple platforms.
The result? Seamless collaboration and real-time insights. Teams no longer have to sift through endless threads to find the information they need. Sedna makes it available when and where it matters most.
Sedna’s platform has become a go-to solution for a wide range of industry players, from charterers and brokers to IT managers and vessel operators. Its impact grew even stronger in 2024 with the acquisition of Nordic IT, a specialist in maritime email management. This move helped solidify Sedna’s position as the leading player in maritime communication technology.
One of the biggest issues with traditional email systems is the absence of structured data, which makes automation nearly impossible. Sedna leverages artificial intelligence to bridge that gap—unlocking value hidden within inboxes.
The platform doesn’t just speed up communication—it also boosts team productivity. Sedna reports that its users have seen an 80% jump in productivity and up to a 200% increase in operator capacity. On average, each team member saves 10 hours per week—time they can now spend on critical tasks instead of sorting through emails.
That kind of performance caught the attention of CIBC Innovation Banking, which added Sedna to its $11 billion investment portfolio. “The maritime and supply chain industry is a cornerstone of global trade, and efficient communication is central to its success,” said Sean Duffy, Managing Director of CIBC Innovation Banking in the UK & Europe. “Sedna ensures vital information reaches the right people fast, enabling better, faster decisions.”
With fresh capital in hand, Sedna is setting its sights on deeper AI innovation and expanded global reach. The company plans to invest further in its machine learning models and broaden its network of integrations—creating even more ways for clients to streamline communication across the supply chain.
Robert Scott, CFO at Sedna, emphasized the strategic value of the funding. “CIBC offers the flexibility and industry knowledge that high-growth companies like ours need. This financing is a clear vote of confidence in Sedna’s market position and momentum,” he said.
“In a sector where speed and accuracy can make or break deals,” Scott added, “this funding allows us to scale faster and double down on building tech that delivers real operational value.”
Sedna’s AI-powered approach to maritime communication could soon become the industry norm—one that not only simplifies messaging but transforms how global trade moves forward.
