VIDEO: Spain taps AI to reduce whale strikes at sea

Spain’s Ministry for the Ecological Transition and the Demographic Challenge (MITECO) has hired SEA-AI and TMS Maritime to install the equipment across a range of vessels and operational environments to help with research, conservation and navigational safety.

The systems are intended to improve the detection and monitoring of marine mammals, particularly whales, while also supporting wider assessment of advanced sensing technologies in operational conditions. The initiative comes amid increasing efforts by researchers and maritime authorities to better understand marine mammal movements and reduce the risk of vessel strikes involving threatened species.

SEA.AI’s technology combines optical and thermal imaging with artificial intelligence to provide continuous real-time detection and classification of objects and marine life at sea. The company said the systems are designed to assist crews in identifying potential hazards, particularly in low visibility or night-time operations.

“This project comes at a critical moment, as interactions between vessels and marine mammals are becoming both more visible and more complex,” said 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.”

While the Spanish deployment is focused on marine conservation and research, the technology also has wider maritime safety applications for both commercial and recreational operators. SEA.AI systems are used to improve situational awareness, helping crews detect hazards and reducing the likelihood of collisions. The systems can also support safety functions such as person-overboard detection.

The project was secured through collaboration with TMS Maritime Solutions, which supported the tender process and is expected to play a role in implementation.

“At TMS Maritime Solutions, we enthusiastically spearhead this strategic collaboration alongside SEA.AI,” said 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 innovation in Spain.”

The contract reflects growing interest across the maritime sector in AI-enabled monitoring systems capable of supporting both operational safety and environmental protection.