AI enhances offshore safety

One system gaining traction is ZOE, an AI-powered detection and tracking solution developed by Edinburgh-based tech firm Zelim.

The system has now been installed on a second jack-up rig, following over a year of proven operation on a North Sea installation.

“The first challenge in a man overboard incident is knowing when and where it happened,” said Zelim chief executive Sam Mayall.

“The second challenge is keeping track of the person in the water, particularly in variable sea states.”

ZOE integrates AI with camera systems to detect and track MOB incidents in real time, sending alerts and geo-location data to coordinate response efforts. It has been adapted to operate in harsh and variable maritime conditions such as moving rigs, changing sea states and inconsistent light.

Zelim trained its AI on a unique maritime dataset of over 7 million labelled images, captured using drone-mounted cameras, to reflect real-world appearances of people in the water under various conditions.

The ZOE platform also powers additional modules such as Watchkeeper, a visual lookout system and Shield, which enhances rig perimeter security. All modules run locally, without needing cloud connectivity, enabling robust performance even in remote offshore locations.

Zelim’s technology has attracted interest from global safety bodies, including the US Coast Guard. “AI doesn’t fatigue, doesn’t blink and doesn’t overlook what’s in plain sight,” said Mayall.