Collisions with marine mammals are a growing problem for the shipping industry, and are intrinsically linked to the 3-4% increase in maritime traffic each year (WWF).
There are two types of detection to consider: surface target detection and sub-surface detection. While the former is particularly relevant to the detection of UFOs or logs, it has little to do with marine mammals, which are present on or below the surface. Today’s technology can detect targets on the surface, using radar, thermal cameras, AIS, but subsurface detection is more complex.
In 2021, the Class joined forces with Pôle Mer Bretagne Atlantique to launch a Call for Expressions of Interest, for innovative solutions to prevent collisions at sea. During 2022, a consortium of three entities was selected. Pixel sur Mer, Sea.Ai and Ensta Bretagne jointly proposed EXOS24 project. This focuses on three sensors: radar, AIS and SEA.AI technology and uses both optical and thermal sensors. The latter, coupled with artificial intelligence, is capable of detecting all floating objects, during either day and night, including those not detected by radar or AIS. The reliability of the information transmitted by each sensor is then translated into data fusion. The aim is to provide accurate and reliable information, by combining and exploiting the complementary nature of each sensor’s data.
The final part of the project focuses on the challenge of automatic avoidance, based on advanced algorithms for calculating collision avoidance trajectories. The project will now focus on surface detection, in order to make the data fusion technology more reliable, based on already reliable sensors. Additional sensors, notably for underwater detection, could be added as technologies evolve. By 2028, the aim is to be able to equip all boats with such a system.
The Hazard Reporting System (HRS) emerged from an observation: at sea, there was no ergonomic tool for sailors to report imminent danger directly and effectively. HRS and its “Hazard Button” technology concluded its development in January 2023 and began its tests during The Ocean Race of that year.
The aim of this new function, accessible on the Adrena and Expedition routing software, is to:
The data collected by this function is ingested directly into a database called Marine Strike Log. This is the world’s most comprehensive database of data relating to sailing boats. The implementation of this strategy and reporting system has supported the establishment of a new standard across all offshore racing events and classes.