Portchain, Copenhagen-based provider of berth alignment software, has been acquired by StormGeo, Alfa Laval’s digital arm for weather intelligence, voyage optimisation and fleet performance.
The acquisition will integrate Portchain’s technology into StormGeo’s Voyage Intelligence platform, connecting berth availability and terminal schedules with vessel routing and speed decisions. StormGeo’s Voyage Intelligence gives operators information on vessel performance, weather and route options, helping them weigh arrival times against fuel consumption.
Portchain’s software covers two parts of the port call process. Its Portchain Connect platform allows carriers and terminals to share and align vessel schedules and cargo volumes. Portchain Quay is used by terminal operators to plan berth allocation, crane deployment and workforce requirements, giving carriers and terminals a shared view of planned operations. According to Portchain, its network connects shipping lines with more than 200 terminals, representing over 40% of global container terminal capacity.
The two companies said in a joint statement that bringing the two together connects voyage planning with the conditions awaiting a ship in port. If a terminal changes its expected berthing time, that information can be taken into account in the vessel’s passage plan. The estimated time of arrival (ETA) can then be assessed against the estimated time of berthing (ETB), while the terminal has updated information on when to allocate the berth, cranes and workforce.
The objective is to bring vessel arrivals and terminal readiness into closer alignment. Portchain said the aim was to help operators adjust voyages while ships were still at sea, improving just-in-time arrivals and reducing waiting time at port, along with associated fuel consumption and emissions. The deal was closed on 30 October 2026.
“Maritime decarbonisation calls for more than optimising individual parts of an operation. It requires making efficiency more connected and actionable for our customers,” says Kim Hedegaard Sørensen, Business Unit President StormGeo. “By combining weather and voyage insights with up-to-date information from ports and terminals, we can help customers plan and act with greater confidence, improve efficiency from sea to port, and make meaningful progress towards their environmental goals.”
“Our ambition is to help make maritime operations more predictable, efficient and sustainable,” says Niels Kristiansen, CEO of Portchain. “Joining StormGeo gives us the opportunity to bring voyage optimisation and port call coordination closer together, helping customers get more value from the decisions they already make. Alfa Laval’s global reach gives us a strong platform to bring these capabilities to more customers and extend their benefits across the entire maritime industry.”
Portchain said that it will continue to operate independently under StormGeo for the next few years before being integrated into its portfolio. The company added that existing customers will see no disruption to services and that the combined offering will be available through StormGeo.