Wärtsilä acquires PortLink

The two firms have successfully worked together in the past on projects such as a next-gen port management system for Tanger Med, the Callao Port Authority’s modernisation in Peru and the delivery of Brazil’s first smart port solution at Porto do Acu.

“Portlink’s domain expertise and portfolio perfectly complement Wärtsilä Voyage’s smart ports vision — a critical piece in our larger ambition of building an end-to-end connected ship-to-shore logistic management and voyage optimisation ecosystem,” explained Sean Fernback, president, Wärtsilä Voyage and executive vice president, Wärtsilä.

Founded in 2007, PortLink provides port efficiency solutions including port management information systems, port community systems, pilotage dispatch systems and local port services. The company has a worldwide partnership with more than 3,500 users and a customer network in more than 20 countries. Its workforce of approximately 20 will be kept on by Wärtsilä Voyage.

Wärtsilä Voyage see the acquisition as a significant step in achieving its aim of using technology and services to promote more sustainable societies. Bringing together the companies’ solutions will help optimise routes and vessel speed, in turn reducing fuel consumption and emissions.

“We share a common vision – one of improving operational efficiency, port safety and environmental sustainability in shipping by reducing carbon and greenhouse gas emissions,” said Evgeny Vdovin, chief executive of PortLink.