Our Story and Team

45% of marine hull insurance claims are caused by machinery breakdown.

For an industry as vital as shipping, this staggering figure revealed a gap: insurers often rely on outdated or irrelevant data when assessing vessel health. This leaves fleet managers scrambling to collect information, while vessels with higher risks aren’t held accountable.

This insight got our founder thinking:

• What if better monitoring and analysis of onboard machinery could change this?
• What if ships with excellent maintenance and lower environmental impact were rewarded with fairer insurance premiums, while poorly maintained, high-risk vessels paid their share?

These questions became the catalyst for launching Ceto.

Shaped by Tony’s years of experience—first in the engine rooms of ships and later as a fleet manager ashore—the vision for Ceto started as a bootstrapped proof of concept.

With a small, passionate team of engineers, designers and insurance specialists, Ceto secured £1.5 million in pre-seed funding in October 2023 to bring its ideas to life.

Today, Ceto is a multidisciplinary team dedicated to transforming the shipping industry. By turning complex data into actionable insights, we help vessels operate safer, cleaner, and more efficiently—while shaping a future where insurance and sustainability go hand in hand.

Spearheaded by industry experts

Our headquarters sits on the banks of the Tyne, a region steeped in maritime innovation and rich with history. This heritage inspires our work as we push the boundaries of what's possible in the industry. While some of our team work across the globe, bringing diverse perspectives from overseas, this worldwide reach enriches our approach, allowing us to innovate and think beyond traditional boundaries.

With over 55 years of combined experience in the maritime and software industries, we’re a team of world-class engineers, creatives, and maritime veterans. United by a shared belief that the future can always be brighter—no matter how treacherous the voyage—we’re pushing the limits of what's possible.