SEAM: Powering a greener future at sea

By Celina Tran | Photos: SEAM

Combining deep maritime expertise with a collaborative approach to innovation, Norwegian technology company SEAM is helping accelerate the transition towards cleaner and smarter shipping solutions.

As the maritime sector faces mounting pressure to reduce emissions and improve efficiency, electrification and smart technologies have moved from being future ambitions to becoming urgent priorities. Norwegian company SEAM has positioned itself at the centre of this transformation, drawing on years of specialised experience to help shape the next generation of sustainable shipping.

John Roger.

Headquartered in Norway, SEAM is an electro and automation company dedicated entirely to the maritime sector. The company develops and delivers products and engineering solutions related to electrification, batteries, automation and energy-efficient vessel systems. While many companies spread their expertise across multiple industries, SEAM has intentionally chosen a different route. “What makes us unique is that we focus exclusively on ships,” explains sales director John Roger Nesje.

The company’s sole focus has allowed it to become highly knowledgeable and experienced about ship regulations and the operational use of vessels, an approach that has become one of its greatest strengths and forms the foundation of its ambitions for a cleaner future at sea.

SEAM: Powering a greener future at sea

Building expertise through maritime specialisation

Although the name itself is relatively new, the story of SEAM reaches further back. Through a series of mergers and acquisitions, the business spent many years as part of Westcon Shipyard before evolving into an independent company with a clearer focus.

The company launched its own automation system for ships in 2008 and has since delivered around 500 systems. Several years later came the next major step in its journey, with the company delivering its first battery installation in 2015.

“In 2021, we were separated from Westcon, which is when the name SEAM was established,” says Nesje. “Since then, we have been on our own and continued growing within electrification and automation.”

Today, the company employs engineers specialising in both software and electrical systems, reflecting the increasingly digital and interconnected nature of modern maritime technology. Most recently, SEAM entered another important chapter in its development through the acquisition by the Korean Hanwha Group, opening new opportunities for continued international growth.

SEAM: Powering a greener future at sea

A partnership approach to innovation

Rather than simply delivering off-the-shelf systems, SEAM has built much of its business around close collaboration with shipowners and operators. The company becomes involved early in projects, helping customers identify the right solutions for specific operational requirements.

“We spend a lot of time workshopping together,” says Nesje. “When a shipowner is planning a vessel, we work alongside them to find the right systems and create what they actually need, instead of selling them something they don’t.”

Kongsborg Westcon. Photo: Svein Egil Økland

This flexible and tailored approach has become increasingly valuable as maritime operators face changing regulations and rapidly evolving technologies. Different vessels have different needs, and no two projects are the same. “We have been very conscious about tailoring solutions and delivering exactly what the vessel and shipowner need,” Nesje explains.

For many customers, introducing hybrid systems, batteries or advanced automation technologies can feel like a significant step involving both investment and uncertainty. SEAM believes that its experience can help make this transition easier. “As we already have the knowledge, our customers don’t need to learn this from scratch. We can remove much of the risk for those who want to try it.”

SEAM: Powering a greener future at sea

Taking Norwegian experience to the world

The Norwegian landscape and early adoption of sustainable solutions means that Norway has established itself as a pioneer in maritime electrification, giving companies like SEAM the opportunity to gain practical experience over many years.

“In Norway, we have many fjords with ferry routes and many factors that allowed us to become early adopters of hybrid and electric vessels. We have always wanted to and are thus working on sharing our experience with the rest of the world,” says the CEO.

SEAM: Powering a greener future at sea

In fact, regardless of how you encounter SEAM, customers can expect to be met with knowledge and good intentions at every step, whether that be through sales, service or a specific project. “Of course, alongside offering competence and experience, our main goal is making our industry greener, and working towards zero-emission solutions within the maritime,” Nesje adds. “We work with efficiency through automation to remove losses and make vessels as efficient as possible, as well as making vessels hybrid and electric to reduce emissions.”

As the maritime sector continues moving towards a lower-emission future, companies that combine technical expertise with practical knowledge are likely to play an increasingly important role. For SEAM, the ambition is not merely to participate in the green transition at sea, but to help steer it.

SEAM: Powering a greener future at sea