SEA.AI and Barnacle Systems are partnering to combine AI-based maritime machine vision with secure, tamper-proof event recording. This effectively creates a visual “black box” for vessels.
SEA.AI provides AI-powered maritime situational awareness, while Barnacle Systems supplies advanced vessel monitoring and fleet intelligence solutions. The partnership is to enable secure recording, storage, and analysis of AI-detected maritime events.
The integration allows SEA.AI’s real-time machine vision detections, including vessels, floating objects, hazards, and near-miss situations, to be captured and logged by Barnacle’s BRNKL Black, a mission-critical “black box for boats”. The result is a unified safety and intelligence solution that reduces collision risk, supports crew decision-making, and improves post-incident review, compliance, and insurance documentation.
Also read: Hefring and SEA.AI launch AI-enhanced vision tech
Recording detections
SEA.AI’s systems use advanced machine learning and optical sensors to detect objects on the water that radar and AIS often miss, including unlit vessels, marine mammals, person overboard and partially submerged debris.
Through the new partnership, BRNKL can now securely record and contextualise these detections, pairing visual evidence with time stamps, vessel data, and operational context. This creates a persistent record of what the vessel “saw” before, during, and after an event, bringing transparency and accountability to maritime operations.
‘Knowing what happened is important. Being able to show what was eye-visible or detected by machine vision is a game-changer,’ says Marcus Warrelmann, CEO of SEA.AI. ‘By combining SEA.AI’s machine vision with BRNKL’s data and recording capabilities, we’re giving operators a powerful new tool for safety, training, and operational confidence.’
Objective post-voyage review, improved situational awareness
The combined SEA.AI–BRNKL solution delivers objective post-voyage review, improved situational awareness, and training insights for crew. Fleet managers gain centralised access to visual and operational data across vessels, while insurers and safety officers can access clearer incident documentation for reduced uncertainty in claims handling.
‘We’re adding a powerful new layer of context to both real-time operations and post-mission analysis,’ adds Brandon Wright, CEO of Barnacle Systems. ‘The ability to automatically detect and classify vessels, buoys, and objects in the water, including those not transmitting AIS, significantly enhances situational awareness. It’s a capability we’re excited to bring to enforcement, military, industrial, and government operators who rely on accurate, complete data to make informed decisions.’
SEA.AI and BRNKL will showcase the integrated solution at the upcoming Navy Tech 2026 exhibition and conference, February 3-5 in Gothenburg, Sweden.
Picture by BRNKL.
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