SeaARCTOS FAQs

Question 1

How is sulphur compliance verified in shipping today?

Accepted Answer

Ships meet sulphur regulations through a combination of low-sulphur fuel use, scrubber installation, and adherence to extra Emission Control Area (ECA) limits. Compliance is typically verified through documentation, fuel sampling, and periodic port state control inspections.

In practice, these methods depend on intermittent spot checks rather than continuous oversight. This creates significant gaps in visibility and leaves operators, charterers, and authorities with limited certainty about actual emissions performance between inspection points.

Continuous monitoring systems such as SeaARCTOS address this directly by providing a real-time, independently verified data stream from the exhaust stack – enabling compliance to be demonstrated at any point, not just at inspection.

Question 2

Why is sulphur compliance difficult to enforce consistently across global shipping?

Accepted Answer

The scale and fragmentation of global shipping make consistent enforcement inherently difficult. Monitoring standards vary across flag states and port authorities, and the vast majority of vessels operate without continuous emissions oversight.

Regulators are therefore heavily reliant on limited spot testing and self-reported data, which creates both enforcement uncertainty and an uneven playing field – where compliant operators bear costs that non-compliant operators may avoid.

Real-time monitoring technology changes this dynamic. Systems such as SeaARCTOS generate a continuous, tamper-resistant data record that supports both independent verification and credible self-reporting, strengthening the integrity of compliance across the value chain.

Question 3

Why is fuel sampling not sufficient for verifying emissions compliance?

Accepted Answer

Fuel sampling is slow, reactive, and operationally disruptive. It requires manual collection and laboratory analysis – a process that can take up to 10 days to complete – and reflects only the condition of fuel at a single point in time rather than actual exhaust emissions performance.

By the time non-compliance is identified through sampling, the vessel may have already departed, significantly reducing the ability of port state authorities to take corrective action. For operators, this also creates financial and reputational risk from retrospective findings.

SeaARCTOS replaces this reactive approach with continuous, automated monitoring at the exhaust stack, providing immediate visibility of emissions performance and enabling issues to be identified and addressed in real time.

Question 4

How reliable is current emissions testing for verifying compliance?

Accepted Answer

Existing testing methods, particularly fuel sampling, offer limited reliability when it comes to continuous compliance verification. Results are based on isolated samples analysed after the fact, rather than reflecting the full picture of a vessel's emissions performance over time.

This creates an inherent blind spot: compliance can only be confirmed at fixed intervals, not throughout a voyage. For operators facing growing regulatory and commercial scrutiny, this level of data quality is increasingly inadequate.

More robust alternatives now exist. Continuous onboard monitoring systems such as SeaARCTOS measure exhaust gases directly and in real time, producing a verifiable, time-stamped data record that supports both regulatory compliance and commercial reporting requirements.

Question 5

How do current emissions testing processes impact vessel operations?

Accepted Answer

Traditional inspection and sampling workflows add friction to vessel operations at every stage. For those ships tested, manual sample collection, laboratory processing, and inspection scheduling all contribute to administrative burden, port delays, and increased compliance costs.

For operators managing multiple vessels across international routes, these inefficiencies compound quickly – affecting turnaround times, crew utilisation, and ultimately, commercial performance.

Automated, real-time monitoring eliminates much of this overhead. SeaARCTOS operates continuously and autonomously once installed, removing the need for manual intervention and reducing the operational disruption associated with traditional compliance processes.

Question 6

Where do gaps exist in current emissions data and verification?

Accepted Answer

Reliance on periodic testing and paper-based documentation creates significant gaps in data coverage across a vessel's operational profile. Emissions performance between inspection points remains essentially unverified, leaving operators unable to demonstrate continuous compliance.

This data gap has direct commercial consequences. Charterers, cargo owners, and financiers increasingly require evidence of emissions performance – and self-reported or retrospective data is coming under greater scrutiny.

Continuous monitoring closes this gap. SeaARCTOS provides a complete, time-stamped emissions record across a vessel's full operation, giving all parties in the value chain access to the credible data they need for reporting, verification, and commercial decision-making.

Question 7

How is emissions monitoring evolving in the maritime industry?

Accepted Answer

The maritime industry is moving steadily away from periodic, manual inspection towards continuous, real-time emissions monitoring. This shift is being driven by tightening regulation, growing commercial demand for verified data, and the limitations of legacy testing approaches.

Continuous monitoring systems measure exhaust gases directly at the source, producing an uninterrupted and verifiable data stream that traditional methods cannot replicate. As regulatory frameworks mature and stakeholder expectations rise, this level of data quality is becoming the operational standard.

Solutions such as SeaARCTOS are designed to support this transition – enabling operators to move from reactive compliance to proactive, data-driven emissions management across their entire fleet.

Question 8

What does continuous emissions monitoring enable in practice?

Accepted Answer

Continuous emissions monitoring involves measuring exhaust gases directly from a vessel in real time, providing a complete and ongoing record of emissions performance throughout a voyage – not just at inspection points.

In practice, this means operators and authorities can access accurate, time-stamped data at any point, removing reliance on periodic sampling and significantly strengthening compliance verification. It also provides the operational insight needed to identify inefficiencies, support fuel management, and respond quickly when performance falls outside expected parameters.

SeaARCTOS is designed to deliver this capability through a compact, stack-mounted system that transmits data via satellite to a secure cloud platform – accessible from any connected device.

Question 9

What are the most effective alternatives to traditional fuel sampling?

Accepted Answer

The most effective alternatives to fuel sampling are real-time onboard monitoring systems that measure emissions directly from the exhaust stack. Unlike laboratory-based sampling, these systems capture continuous data at the point of emission, eliminating the delays, handling variability, and retrospective limitations inherent in traditional testing.

Remote sensing technologies – used by port authorities and aerial monitoring programmes – offer a complementary layer of external verification, but do not provide the continuous, operator-controlled data stream required for proactive compliance management.

SeaARCTOS replaces manual sampling entirely with automated, real-time monitoring, generating a verifiable and tamper-resistant record that supports both regulatory compliance and commercial reporting across the maritime value chain.

Question 10

How does SeaARCTOS strengthen emissions compliance verification?

Accepted Answer

SeaARCTOS is built to address the fundamental limitations of traditional emissions testing – namely, the reliance on periodic checks, manual processes, and data that cannot be independently verified.

By measuring emissions continuously and directly from the exhaust stack, SeaARCTOS produces a real-time, tamper-resistant data record that gives operators, charterers, and authorities consistent visibility of a vessel's compliance status throughout its operation.

Because the system operates independently of onboard infrastructure and transmits data via satellite to a secure cloud platform, it provides a level of data integrity that documentation-based approaches cannot match – enabling operators to move from reactive compliance to proactive, evidence-led emissions management.

Question 11

What emissions data does the ARCTOS-1™ system provide?

Accepted Answer

The ARCTOS-1™ system measures sulphur dioxide (SO₂), carbon dioxide (CO₂), and methane (CH₄) directly from a vessel's exhaust stack, alongside precise geolocation data.

This combination produces a detailed, time-stamped emissions record that covers the regulatory parameters most relevant to current and emerging compliance requirements – including ECA sulphur limits, CII calculations, and methane slip monitoring for LNG-fuelled vessels.

The data is transmitted continuously via satellite and accessible through a secure cloud platform, enabling operators and authorities to interrogate performance at any point across a voyage.

Question 12

How is ARCTOS-1™ deployed across a vessel?

Accepted Answer

ARCTOS-1™ is a compact, stack-mounted unit that can be installed in under an hour without welding, cutting, or power tools. The system is designed to minimise operational disruption during installation and requires no modification to existing onboard infrastructure.

Once deployed, it operates fully autonomously – collecting and transmitting emissions data without the need for manual intervention or dedicated crew time. This makes it practical to deploy across a fleet, regardless of vessel type or age.

The combination of rapid installation and autonomous operation removes the barriers that have historically made continuous monitoring impractical for most commercial operators.

Question 13

How is emissions data delivered to operators and authorities?

Accepted Answer

Emissions data captured by ARCTOS-1™ is transmitted via satellite to a secure cloud platform and can be accessed from any connected device – by operators, charterers, port state control authorities, or other authorised stakeholders.

Because the system operates independently of a vessel's onboard systems, the data pipeline is both reliable and tamper-resistant. This independence is critical for regulatory credibility: it ensures that the data provided to external parties accurately reflects real emissions performance, rather than figures that could be subject to selective reporting.

For port state control and flag state authorities, this provides a verified, continuously updated compliance record that significantly strengthens enforcement capability.

Question 14

How does real-time monitoring improve compliance outcomes?

Accepted Answer

Real-time monitoring fundamentally changes the compliance model – from one based on periodic verification and retrospective review, to one based on continuous, independently verifiable data.

For operators, this means issues can be identified and addressed as they arise, rather than discovered weeks later through a laboratory report. For regulators and port state control authorities, it provides a credible data record that reduces dependence on self-reporting and improves the consistency of enforcement across jurisdictions.

Ultimately, continuous monitoring – as delivered by systems such as SeaARCTOS – supports faster decision-making, reduces the risk of non-compliance events, and provides the evidential quality of data that today's regulatory environment increasingly demands.

Question 15

What operational and commercial impact does emissions monitoring have?

Accepted Answer

By replacing manual sampling and administrative compliance processes with automated, real-time monitoring, operators can significantly reduce the time and cost associated with emissions management.

At the operational level, this translates to faster port turnarounds, reduced crew workload, and fewer compliance-related delays. At the commercial level, access to continuous emissions data supports more informed charter negotiations, reduces off-hire risk, and strengthens the vessel's position in markets where emissions performance is a factor in procurement decisions.

As regulatory scrutiny increases and environmental performance becomes a commercial differentiator, the ability to demonstrate verified emissions data – as SeaARCTOS enables – is moving from a reporting obligation to a core operational advantage.

Question 16

How does emissions data support reporting and commercial decision-making?

Accepted Answer

Accurate emissions data is no longer purely a regulatory requirement – it has become a core input for commercial decision-making across the maritime value chain. Charterers, cargo owners, and financial institutions are increasingly requiring verifiable emissions records as part of standard due diligence and contract terms.

Continuous, high-quality data enables operators to meet these demands credibly – supporting CII reporting, EU ETS obligations, and the growing range of ESG frameworks that require independently verified performance data rather than estimates.

SeaARCTOS is designed to provide exactly this: a continuously updated, tamper-resistant record of emissions performance that supports transparent reporting, strengthens stakeholder confidence, and enables more informed decisions at every level of the operation.

Question 17

What solutions does SeaARCTOS provide?

Accepted Answer

SeaARCTOS delivers real-time, accurate emissions data to ensure compliance with environmental regulations, eliminating lengthy inspections and extended port delays. The system reads SO₂, CO₂, methane (CH₄), and geolocation data in real time and transmits independently to a secure cloud platform, the only system capable of continuous, direct, and independent SO₂ monitoring, supported by a worldwide patent and MARPOL-approved technology. SeaARCTOS adapts to evolving regulations, ensuring vessels stay ahead of environmental mandates while improving operational efficiency and profitability.

Question 18

How is ARCTOS-1 installed and utilized?

Accepted Answer

The ARCTOS-1™ is a compact, stack-mounted sensor that requires no welding, cutting, or power tools, and can be installed in under an hour. Simply install the compact unit on the ship's funnel, it takes less than an hour and requires no specialist skill. Automated operation and built-in tamper alerts notify both operators and authorities of any interference, reducing administrative burden and eliminating off-hire time for emissions testing.

Question 19

Can the ARCTOS-1™ be fitted to any type or size of vessel?

Accepted Answer

Weighing less than 3.5kg and no larger than a shoebox, the unit is compact and lightweight, making it suitable for a wide range of vessel types and sizes. SeaARCTOS has completed over 20,000 hours of real-world testing of the unit, gathering data from fleets including those of Interlink Maritime and Bernhard Schulte Shipmanagement, demonstrating its versatility across diverse commercial shipping operations. ARCTOS-1 operates without reliance on the vessel's power and satellite communications systems, instead generating its own electrical power from exhaust heat recovery, making it compatible with virtually any vessel configuration.

Question 20

What emissions does the ARCTOS-1™ measure?

Accepted Answer

ARCTOS-1 monitors carbon dioxide (CO₂), methane (CH₄), and sulphur dioxide (SO₂) exhaust levels via a dedicated sensor attached to a vessel's exhaust stack. Geolocation data is also captured alongside emissions readings, giving operators a complete picture of where and when specific emission levels were recorded. Future development of the sensor is expected to include reporting of NOx emissions and expanded measurement capabilities.

Question 21

How often is data transmitted, and how does it get to the dashboard?

Accepted Answer

SO₂, CO₂, and geolocation data is captured and transmitted to the cloud in real time via satellite link, with users able to access their dashboard to view emissions and location data for themselves and their stakeholders. The ARCTOS-1™ transmits securely to the cloud independent of the vessel's communications systems, ensuring data integrity is maintained regardless of onboard connectivity. By submitting its data directly to port and flag state authorities, the system helps minimise delays, improve transparency, and provide concrete evidence of compliance to cargo owners and financiers.