Eight Knot Inc. (Headquarters: Sakai City, Osaka; CEO: Yujin Kimura, hereinafter referred to as “Eight Knot”), a pioneering startup in autonomous ship navigation, and E-Force Marine Inc. (Headquarters: Miami, Florida; CEO: Al Haghayegh, hereinafter referred to as “E-Force Marine”), announced today that they have signed an agreement to conduct a joint pilot project showcasing the “Eight Knot AI CAPTAIN” autonomous navigation platform in the U.S..png)
As part of collaboration, Eight Knot will integrate its state-of-the-art autonomous navigation platform, Eight Knot AI CAPTAIN (hereinsfter referred to as “AI CAPTAIN”), onto electric boat owned by E-Force Marine for comprehensive performance evaluation at test site in Florida.
The pilot will involve the joint efforts of both companies’ engineering teams to oversee hardware installation, system calibration, data acquisition, and UI/UX validation. In addition, E-Force Marine will host test rides for its employees and customers to gather feedback and identify key requirements for autonomous navigation solutions tailored to the U.S. market.
Through this initiative, Eight Knot, a startup specializing in autonomous navigation technology for vessels, aims to establish strong foothold for its expansion to the United States, leveraging this pilot to validate technology readiness and regulatory adaptability. E-Force Marine, a leading innovator in electric marine propulsion, seeks to accelerate the advent of next-generation marine mobility by combining zero-emission electric systems with advanced autonomy.
They intend to use the results of joint demonstration as foundation for strategic discussions toward a broader partnership, shaping the future of sustainable and intelligent marine transportation in the United States.
EightKnot Inc. Overview
Eight Knot is driving the digital transformation of the sea and the robotization of vessels, focusing on autonomous navigation technologies for small and mid-sized vessels. We provide solutions such as navigation support systems to support crews, improve maritime safety, and optimize operational costs by implementing practical autonomous navigation. Our system, “Eight Knot AI CAPTAIN,” automates navigation from departure to docking and is seeing growing adoption in Japan. We plan to expand into the North American market by 2027.
E-Force Marine Inc. Overview
E‑Force Marine leads the marine electrification movement by engineering and manufacturing bespoke electric and hybrid propulsion systems - most notably its Aurora E‑Drive platform. The company designs electric vessels and converts existing fuel-powered boats into efficient “e‑crafts,” enabling up to 81% lower energy cost and zero-emission operations. Its solutions offer quiet, low-maintenance cruising with fast charging options.