Former Q88 executives have launched Vessel Fact, an independently funded maritime compliance platform designed to eliminate costly data drift across vetting formats like SIRE 2.0 and HVPQ. Headquartered in Galway, Ireland, the platform centralizes vessel particulars, certificates, and questionnaires into a single trusted record. By combining modern syndication workflows with experienced, human-led customer support, Vessel Fact aims to give commercial ship operators total confidence during critical compliance and vetting inspections.
Galway, Ireland | September 10, 2026 – A seasoned team of maritime technology veterans, headlined by core former executives from Q88, has officially launched Vessel Fact, a next-generation compliance and vessel data platform designed to eliminate the persistent headache of data fragmentation in commercial shipping.
Announced today from its base in Galway, the independent company aims to solve a notoriously costly and inefficient workflow: the repetitive entry and subsequent drift of vessel particulars across dozens of competing compliance frameworks.
The Leadership Team: Decades of Industry Pedigree
Vessel Fact enters the market backed by a leadership team boasting centuries of combined experience in maritime software, vessel operations, and commercial shipping:
- Stephen Dudzic (Chief Executive Officer & Co-Founder): Brings more than 25 years of enterprise software engineering experience, including a 15-year tenure as Chief Technology Officer at Q88. He spearheads corporate strategy and long-term tech development.
- Catherine Mancuso (Chief Operating Officer & Co-Founder): A maritime professional with nearly 20 years in the industry. Starting her career as an officer at sea, her ashore experience includes 16 years at Q88 in diverse leadership roles.
- Jeroen de Man (Chief Sales Officer): A shipping veteran with over 40 years of expertise spanning Jo Tankers, Odin Marine Europe, ShipNet, and a nearly decade-long stint at Q88. He drives global commercial strategy and client relations.
- Fotis Georgakopoulos (Chief Customer Officer): With over two decades in maritime tech across global hubs, including a nearly nine-year run heading Q88’s Greek market office, he leads customer support, implementations, and global account success.
Solving the “Data Drift” Crisis in Ship Operations
The impetus behind Vessel Fact stems from a universal industry frustration. Traditionally, ship operators must manually re-enter vital vessel particulars across a fragmented landscape of questionnaire formats. This includes industry-standard frameworks like HVPQ, SIRE 2.0, and CDI workflows, alongside custom charterer templates.
Because certificates and vessel particulars update continuously in a non-centralized manner, these copies inevitably “drift apart.” These hidden data gaps frequently remain obscured until a critical moment, such as a vetting inspection or a compliance audit, triggering costly operational delays or a failed fixture.
“We created Vessel Fact to help commercial shipping companies simplify and strengthen the vetting and compliance process,” explains Stephen Dudzic, Chief Executive Officer & Co-Founder . “Our vision is to combine modern technology with responsive, personal service to give our customers confidence in the information they rely on every day.”
How the Platform Works: Single Record, Infinite Outputs
Vessel Fact operates on a streamlined syndicating workflow anchored by a single trusted vessel record. Instead of siloed spreadsheets and redundant data entry, operators input data once. The system houses certificates, questionnaire data, officer matrices, load line particulars, and inspection records in a unified source environment.
From this single repository, the platform automatically populates questionnaire templates and tailors individualized compliance packages. This ensures charterers, brokers, bunker suppliers, and counterparties always work from identical, real-time data.
Key Platform Scope:
- Vessel Questionnaires: Automated syndication across global vetting formats.
- Certificate Management: Centralized tracking to prevent expiration drift.
- Vetting & Inspections: Complete historical records and audit trails.
- Officer Matrix & Load Line Data: Real-time crew and structural particulars.
- Document Management: Secure storage tied directly to the master vessel record.
Independence and a “Human Touch” Approach
Crucially, Vessel Fact has launched with zero outside investment, remaining entirely self-funded by its founding partners. This complete financial independence allows the team to prioritize long-term software quality and customer utility over rapid venture capital growth.
Furthermore, the founders are doubling down on high-touch customer support, rejecting automated ticket queues in favor of experienced professionals.
“Vessel Fact keeps owners and operators ahead of vetting and gives them the confidence that changes and updates are reflected accurately across every reporting stream,” notes Catherine Mancuso, Chief Operating Officer & Co-Founder. “We understand the risks and frustrations they face because we’ve lived them ourselves. Our customers will be supported by our own people, the same experienced people they’ve come to know and trust, not an automated system.”
Following a soft launch on 2 September, Vessel Fact is rolling out a comprehensive global marketing campaign. Industry stakeholders, shipowners, and operators can request live product demonstrations directly via Vessel Fact website.
About Vessel Fact
Vessel Fact is an innovative maritime compliance and vessel data platform designed to streamline ship operations. Built on a single structured vessel record, the platform stores a ship’s data once and seamlessly reuses it across multiple questionnaires, certificates, vetting records, and compliance packages.
Founded in 2026 by industry veterans Stephen Dudzic, Catherine Mancuso, Jeroen de Man, and Fotis Georgakopoulos, Vessel Fact eliminates redundant data entry and costly information drift.
Core Platform Scope:
- Vessel Questionnaires: Automated population across standard and custom templates.
- Certificate Management: Centralized tracking for active compliance.
- Vetting & Inspections: Unified historical records and audit readiness.
- Officer Matrix: Real-time personnel data management.
- Load Line Data & Document Management: Secure storage tied directly to the master record.
Source: Vessel Fact