Windward, the Maritime AI company, and Singapore’s SGTraDex have inked a deal to tackle one of trade finance’s biggest headaches: opacity.
Announced today, the new partnership aims to reshape global trade finance by blending Windward’s AI-driven maritime intelligence with SGTraDex’s trusted digital infrastructure. The result? A more transparent, compliant, and efficient supply chain ecosystem—where financiers, shippers, and stakeholders can make better-informed decisions with fewer blind spots.
Digitizing the Dollars Behind Maritime Trade
Trade finance has long been a paradox: powering over 80% of global trade, yet still stuck with manual paperwork, fragmented data, and trust gaps that slow everything down. As regulators, banks, and logistics providers clamor for transparency, the pressure is on to digitize and de-risk the entire process.
That’s where this collaboration steps in. Under a newly signed Memorandum of Understanding (MoU), Windward and SGTraDex will co-develop digital tools and industry solutions to streamline due diligence, accelerate compliance checks, and give financiers a clearer picture of risk across supply chains.
Windward brings the AI brainpower. Its Maritime AI™ platform uses real-time data and machine learning to track vessel behavior, detect anomalies (like ship-to-ship transfers or port delays), and uncover patterns linked to fraud, smuggling, or sanctioned activity.
SGTraDex, on the other hand, acts as a digital backbone—a secure platform for exchanging trade and logistics data among ecosystem players. Backed by Singapore’s government and key industry partners, it’s designed to reduce duplication, automate documentation, and enable seamless information flows.
Why This Matters: Trust Is Currency in Trade Finance
This partnership isn’t just a nice-to-have—it’s an answer to growing concerns in the $9–$10 trillion global trade finance market. From “ghost ships” hiding cargo origins to misdeclared goods and opaque ownership chains, financial institutions have long struggled to assess risk in maritime trade.
By combining Windward’s visibility into vessel behavior with SGTraDex’s ability to facilitate secure data sharing, the collaboration could set a new standard for trade finance due diligence. Think of it as onboarding KYV (Know Your Vessel) to complement KYC (Know Your Customer).
“Singapore is a global leader in shipping and trade finance,” said Windward CEO Ami Daniel. “Our partnership with SGTraDex is about creating shared trust, using AI to empower smarter, faster, and safer decisions in global trade.”
Tan Chin Hwee, Chairman of SGTraDex, echoed the sentiment: “This collaboration creates new opportunities to enhance supply chain efficiency and transparency. Together, we’ll build greater digital connectivity for the entire trade ecosystem.”
The Broader Context: Maritime AI Gets Real
Windward’s expansion into trade finance tools is part of a broader industry shift. As geopolitical tensions, supply chain bottlenecks, and sanctions compliance become boardroom issues, AI-powered maritime intelligence is moving from niche to necessity.
Other players—like Altana, S&P Global, and Project44—are also exploring AI and data fusion models to demystify supply chains. But Windward’s partnership with SGTraDex gives it a strong foothold in Asia’s most strategically important shipping and trade hub.
This also marks a growing trend where AI providers partner with neutral infrastructure platforms to create plug-and-play solutions for traditionally conservative industries like banking and logistics.
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