ZeroNorth has launched Propel, an agentic AI partner for maritime operations designed to automate repetitive manual tasks across voyage, vessel, and fuel workflows while keeping operators in control. Backed by launch partners Cargill, Ultrabulk, and CMB.TECH, the platform debuts with a voyage optimisation agent that autonomously generates plans, manages master communications, and refines routes. Set for wider commercial release later in 2026, the technology aims to save fleets valuable time and drive greater operational precision amid a complex global shipping landscape.
Copenhagen, Denmark | August 4, 2026 – In a major development for the global shipping and bunker industries, ZeroNorth has officially introduced Propel by ZeroNorth, a cutting-edge agentic AI partner designed to transform maritime operations.
Backed by maritime heavyweights Cargill, Ultrabulk, and CMB.TECH as launch partners, Propel launches today with an advanced voyage optimisation agent. The platform is engineered to evolve over time into a comprehensive AI partner capable of managing complex workflows across voyage, vessel, and fuel operations.
Moving Beyond Recommendations to Autonomous Action
The maritime industry faces an increasingly complex operational landscape, driven by persistent geopolitical disruptions, rapid regulatory changes, and volatile bunker and fuel prices. Historically, operators have had to coordinate critical decisions across multiple vessels and disconnected software systems, often losing valuable time to repetitive administrative friction.
Traditional maritime software has long been limited to providing insights and recommendations, leaving humans to execute the heavy lifting of manual coordination. Propel changes this paradigm by leveraging agentic AI, technology capable of understanding user intent, adapting dynamically to changing environmental conditions, and actively carrying out work across multifaceted operational processes within strict human-defined boundaries.
“Our ambition with Propel is to help change the way shipping works by changing what technology can do inside maritime operations,” said Søren Andersen, CEO of ZeroNorth. “There is immense potential to move towards operations that are more connected, continuous and precise, where technology takes on more of the coordination work and people can focus their judgement where it creates the greatest value.”
How the Voyage Optimisation Agent Works
At launch, Propel takes direct ownership of repetitive, manual tasks traditionally managed by operators during the voyage planning cycle. Specifically, the system:
- Generates comprehensive voyage plans tailored to real-time variables.
- Manages communications directly with the vessel master.
- Incorporates feedback seamlessly to update and refine routes on the fly.
- Keeps the human operator in the loop, ensuring final oversight while running continuously in the background.
By operating around the clock, Propel enables operations teams to act faster on emerging voyage opportunities, cutting down hours of manual coordination across fleets and organizations.
Following a successful three-month trial phase within ZeroNorth’s Professional Services team, the voyage optimisation agent is now rolling out via early access to foundational customers Cargill, Ultrabulk, and CMB.TECH.
Industry Leaders Rally Behind the Launch
The involvement of long-standing partners highlights a shared commitment to modernizing the commercial and operational mechanics of shipping through practical, field-tested technology.
James Lewis, Vice President Global Operations, Cargill Ocean Transportation, stated“We’re proud to continue working with our long-standing partners at ZeroNorth to explore technologies that can modernise shipping, improve operational efficiency and help move the industry forward.”
Oskar Fabricius, CFO at Ultrabulk, added“At Ultrabulk, we have seen that technology delivers when it is grounded in real operations. The potential for AI that can take action, not just surface insights, is significant, and as a partner since ZeroNorth’s earliest days, we are glad to be at the front of shaping what that looks like in practice.”
Roadmap and Future Capabilities
ZeroNorth plans to release new operational agents on an ongoing basis. Every new capability undergoes rigorous testing with launch partners to ensure Propel remains strictly grounded in the physical realities of diverse shipping segments.
Ultimately, Propel will monitor and execute actions across voyage, vessel, and fuel workflows, with wider commercial availability scheduled for rollout later in 2026.
About ZeroNorth
Founded in 2020 and achieving positive EBITDA by 2025, ZeroNorth has rapidly expanded into a global maritime technology leader through organic growth and strategic acquisitions. Today, the company serves over 200 customers, processes 1.3 trillion data points, and facilitates the trading of more than 50 million tonnes of bunkers annually on its platform.
With the introduction of Propel, ZeroNorth enters its next chapter, unifying its core product areas onto a trusted data foundation designed to drive commercial precision, operational resilience, and environmental responsibility across sustainable global trade.
Source: ZeroNorth