Ship Bridge Simulators Market Report 2026

The ship bridge simulators market size has grown strongly in recent years. It will grow from $2.27 billion in 2025 to $2.4 billion in 2026 at a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 5.5%. The growth in the historic period can be attributed to early adoption of simulation-based maritime training, advancements in radar and navigation display technologies, growth of global shipping and naval operations, regulatory requirements for certified maritime training, integration of integrated control panels in training systems.

The ship bridge simulators market size is expected to see strong growth in the next few years. It will grow to $2.93 billion in 2030 at a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 5.1%. The growth in the forecast period can be attributed to increasing demand for virtual and immersive simulation technologies, adoption of AI-driven scenario generation and predictive training, expansion of remote and cloud-based simulator access, rising focus on safety and operational efficiency in maritime operations, development of next-generation multi-sensor and full-bridge simulator systems. Major trends in the forecast period include increasing adoption of full mission and part task simulators for maritime training, growing demand for vr-based and dynamic positioning simulators, integration of advanced radar and navigation displays within simulators, expansion of simulation-based professional and constructive training programs, rising use of simulators by maritime academies and large-scale shipping organizations.

The growth of the shipping industry is expected to drive the expansion of the ship bridge simulators market in the coming years. The shipping industry, or maritime transport, is a global network responsible for moving goods and commodities by sea. Its expansion supports international trade by transporting large volumes of goods and raw materials across oceans efficiently and cost-effectively. Ship bridge simulators improve safety, efficiency, and skill development by providing realistic training environments where navigation, emergency response, and operational procedures can be practiced without real-world risks. For example, in March 2025, the U.S. Naval Institute, a US-based non-profit organization, reported that the global shipbuilding sector recorded contracts worth approximately $188 billion during the first 11 months of 2024, a significant rise from the $90 billion average a decade earlier. Additionally, 530 new container ships entered service in 2024, up from 350 in 2023, reflecting intensified investment in fleet expansion despite operational disruptions. Therefore, the expansion of the shipping industry is boosting the ship bridge simulator market.

Leading companies in the ship bridge simulator market are focusing on immersive technologies such as extended reality (XR) full mission bridge simulation to enhance maritime training, improve navigation safety, and promote sustainable operations. XR full mission bridge simulation combines virtual, augmented, and mixed reality environments with real vessel equipment to deliver interactive, high-fidelity training experiences for seafarers. For instance, in January 2025, Capital Group, a US-based management services company, partnered with FORCE Technology, a Denmark-based simulation technology firm, to launch Europe’s first XR full mission bridge simulator, marking a major advancement in maritime training technology. The system improves safety, operational decision-making, and teamwork while enabling remote multi-user collaboration, reducing costs, and lowering the carbon footprint. Designed for seafarer training in Greece, it transforms maritime education through realism, efficiency, and sustainability.

In June 2024, Hoegh Autoliners, a Norwegian shipping and logistics company, purchased Kongsberg bridge and engine simulators. The acquisition included a K-Sim Navigation simulator tailored to replicate the Aurora Class vessels, enabling crew members to gain practical experience with Kongsberg Maritime's bridge systems. This investment in simulation technology aligns with Hoegh Autoliners' commitment to spearheading the green shift in maritime transportation. It aims to enhance crew competencies in efficiently and sustainably operating the new Aurora Class vessels. Kongsberg Digital, based in Norway, specializes in developing advanced ship bridge simulators for maritime education, training, and research.

Major companies operating in the ship bridge simulators market are General Dynamics Information Technology Inc., Rheinmetall Defence Electronics GmbH, Wärtsilä Corporation, Kongsberg Gruppen, FORCE Technology, Synergy Marine Group, ARI Simulation, Adacel Technologies Limited, Aboa Mare AB, ST Engineering Antycip, ARI (Applied Research International), Virtual Marine Inc., SeaSkills Maritime Academy, PC Maritime Ltd, VSTEP BV, Image Soft Inc., Cal-Tek Srl, Japan Marine Science Inc., SSPA Sweden AB, Pivot Maritime International, Simwave B.V., AMC Search Ltd., Coral Nautical Ventures LLP, NAUDEQ, Presagis Canada Inc, SIPORT XXI SL.

North America was the largest region in the ship bridge simulators market in 2025. The regions covered in the ship bridge simulators market report are Asia-Pacific, South East Asia, Western Europe, Eastern Europe, North America, South America, Middle East, Africa.

Note that the outlook for this market is being affected by rapid changes in trade relations and tariffs globally. The report will be updated prior to delivery to reflect the latest status, including revised forecasts and quantified impact analysis. The report’s Recommendations and Conclusions sections will be updated to give strategies for entities dealing with the fast-moving international environment.

Tariffs affecting ship bridge simulator components such as high-end VR equipment, navigation displays, and radar systems have increased production costs and impacted adoption, particularly in regions like North America, Europe, and Asia-Pacific where imports are significant. The rising costs mainly affect interactive simulator segments and large-scale maritime training organizations. However, tariffs also encourage local manufacturing and innovation in simulator technologies, potentially enhancing domestic capabilities and reducing dependency on foreign suppliers over time.

The ship bridge simulators market research report is one of a series of new reports that provides ship bridge simulators market statistics, including the ship bridge simulators industry global market size, regional shares, competitors with ship bridge simulators market share, detailed ship bridge simulators market segments, market trends, and opportunities, and any further data you may need to thrive in the ship bridge simulators industry. These ship bridge simulators market research reports deliver a complete perspective of everything you need, with an in-depth analysis of the current and future scenarios of the industry.

A ship bridge simulator is an advanced training tool that replicates the ship's bridge, enabling maritime professionals to practice navigation, maneuvering, and decision-making in a virtual setting. It employs sophisticated software and hardware to simulate real-world conditions effectively. This simulator plays a crucial role in skill enhancement, safety assurance, and operational efficiency improvement at sea.

There are two main types of ship bridge simulators interactive and non-interactive. Interactive ship bridge simulators are sophisticated tools that realistically simulate ship bridge operations in an interactive environment. They offer various training solutions tailored to different organizational sizes, including live training, professional training, constructive training, virtual training, system training, and game simulation training for both marine and educational sectors.

The countries covered in the ship bridge simulators market report are Australia, Brazil, China, France, Germany, India, Indonesia, Japan, Taiwan, Russia, South Korea, UK, USA, Canada, Italy, Spain.

The ship bridge simulators market consists of revenues earned by entities by providing services such as simulation-based training, consulting, and support services. The market value includes the value of related goods sold by the service provider or included within the service offering. The ship bridge simulator market also includes sales of radar systems and navigation displays, and integrated control panels. Values in this market are ‘factory gate’ values, that is the value of goods sold by the manufacturers or creators of the goods, whether to other entities (including downstream manufacturers, wholesalers, distributors and retailers) or directly to end customers. The value of goods in this market includes related services sold by the creators of the goods.

The market value is defined as the revenues that enterprises gain from the sale of goods and/or services within the specified market and geography through sales, grants, or donations in terms of the currency (in USD unless otherwise specified).

The revenues for a specified geography are consumption values that are revenues generated by organizations in the specified geography within the market, irrespective of where they are produced. It does not include revenues from resales along the supply chain, either further along the supply chain or as part of other products.

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