- Technology and Innovation
Total Sovereignty: Protecting Your Hull With the Industry’s Smartest AI Co-Pilot
A New Architecture of Awareness
The energy at METSTRADE 2025 confirmed one thing: the industry has moved beyond traditional radar. SEA.AI stood at the center of this shift, showcasing a technical protagonist that earned a prestigious Special Mention in the Navigation & Communication category at the DAME Design Awards: the Watchkeeper. This system isn’t just a camera; it is an AI-powered co-pilot designed to see what the human eye and electronic sensors often miss, from semi-submerged containers to swimmers in the water.
Intelligence Beyond the Human Eye
The Watchkeeper platform functions as a consistent, tireless sentinel. By combining optical and thermal sensors with advanced machine vision, it identifies floating hazards in real time. Whether you are navigating coastal hops or deep offshore passages, the AI alerts the crew to dangers that are typically invisible at night or in heavy chop. It provides a level of situational awareness that allows captains to make safer decisions without the fatigue of constant visual scanning.
The Modular Strategy for Modern Hulls
One of the most impressive aspects of the Watchkeeper is its modularity. SEA.AI has engineered various configurations to fit specific vessel needs, offering thermal camera resolutions ranging up to 1280×512 for a panoramic wide view. Motorboat owners gain the high-speed response needed for rapid transit, while sailing yacht captains enjoy a lightweight, integrated setup that doesn’t compromise the rig’s performance. This isn’t a one-size-fits-all tool; it is a bespoke safety solution.
Integration Without Complexity
Sophisticated tech is useless if it creates a cluttered bridge. SEA.AI solved this by ensuring Watchkeeper works directly with the MFD (Multi-Function Display) screens already in use on the vessel. Detections appear within the existing workflow, meaning there are no extra displays to manage and no new habits to learn. It is a sleek, professional integration that puts high-resolution thermal vision and 4K low-light capability directly at the captain’s fingertips.
The Verdict: A New Standard of Confidence
As a winner of the 2025 Innovation Award at the Cannes Yachting Festival and a DAME favorite, the Watchkeeper has established itself as the elite choice for safety. It protects the hull, the marine life, and the crew with a level of precision that was previously the domain of high-end commercial or military shipping. By eliminating visual blind spots and providing consistent watchkeeping, SEA.AI has ensured that the future of cruising is defined by seeing more and worrying less.
