Austrian maritime technology company Sea.AI has been awarded a public tender by Spain’s Ministry for the Ecological Transition and the Demographic Challenge (MITECO) to provide AI-powered maritime machine vision systems for marine research, conservation and maritime safety work.
The contract, secured with regional partner TMS Maritime Solutions, covers the delivery of seven Sea.AI systems for use across different vessels and operating environments.
The systems will support the detection and monitoring of marine mammals, particularly whales, while also helping researchers assess advanced sensing technologies in operational conditions.
Scientists and authorities are continuing efforts to better understand how marine mammals interact with vessel traffic, an issue that can affect both maritime operations and vulnerable species. AI technology, such as that offered by Sea.AI combines optical and thermal imaging with artificial intelligence to provide continuous, real-time detection and classification of objects and marine life.
The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) – a US federal agency focused on the condition of the oceans and the atmosphere – has recently closed a public comment period on its proposed changes to speed rules designed to protect North Atlantic right whales.
The technology is also intended for wider maritime safety applications on both recreational and commercial vessels. Sea.AI says its systems are designed to improve situational awareness, helping crews identify potential hazards and supporting functions such as collision avoidance and person-overboard detection.
Other AI-powered whale detection systems on the market include one developed by WhaleSpotter with thermal sensing technology from Teledyne FLIR OEM.
“This project comes at a critical moment, as interactions between vessels and marine mammals are becoming both more visible and more complex,” says Esteban Campos, sales manager at Sea.AI. “Crews need the ability to detect and react to avoid collisions, even in low visibility or at night. That’s exactly where AI-powered machine vision can make a difference.”
The project is being delivered through Sea.AI’s collaboration with TMS Maritime Solutions, which supported both the tender process and implementation in Spain.
“At TMS Maritime Solutions, we enthusiastically spearhead this strategic collaboration alongside Sea.AI,” says Sònia Compte, chief executive of TMS Maritime Solutions. “We recognise a growing sophistication in the demand for intelligent technologies that harmonise marine ecosystem preservation with peak navigational safety. We are proud to be the driving force behind the deployment of this disruptive innovation in Spain, reaffirming our commitment to technological excellence and industry sustainability.”
The news comes after Sea.AI and French shipyard Nautitech Catamarans partnered to make Sea.AI’s machine vision systems available as an option across the full range of Nautitech performance catamarans.
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