SEA.AI and BRNKL Partner to Deliver AI Vision Recording and Incident Intelligence for Maritime Operations
- Tess Smallridge
- Jan 15
- 3 min read
January 15, 2026 — SEA.AI, the leader in AI-powered maritime situational awareness, has announced a new partnership with Barnacle Systems, engineers of advanced vessel monitoring and fleet intelligence solutions, enabling 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.
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 contextualize 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,” said 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.”
The combined SEA.AI–BRNKL solution delivers objective post-voyage review, improved situational awareness, and training insights for crew. Fleet managers gain centralized access to visual and operational data across vessels, while insurers and safety officers can access clearer incident documentation for reduced uncertainty in claims handling.
“By integrating SEA.AI’s machine-vision cameras with the BRNKL platform, we’re adding a powerful new layer of context to both real-time operations and post-mission analysis,” said 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. SEA.AI materials and demonstrations will be available at the BRNKL booth #106, and attendees can explore how AI vision, recording, and vessel intelligence work together in real-world maritime scenarios.
About SEA.AI
SEA.AI has been a pioneer in Machine Vision for maritime applications since 2018. The company is dedicated to making Machine Vision the new standard for safety and situational awareness in the maritime sector. SEA.AI's product range includes fully integrated systems that combine optical and thermal sensors with artificial intelligence to enhance safety and security at sea, as well as their maritime machine vision solution, Brain, which is compatible with third-party cameras. SEA.AI systems are designed to quickly detect and identify floating objects, providing the crew with real-time information. The technology is available in various versions tailored to the specific needs of recreational, commercial, and governmental vessels, including unmanned surface vehicles (USVs).
About BRNKL
Barnacle Systems develops advanced monitoring and security solutions that protect vessels, operators and coastlines in over 40 countries. BRNKL products monitor, track and record onboard systems – anytime, anywhere – providing continuous visibility into vessel activity, systems, and surroundings. BRNKL Black, Barnacle’s “black box for boats”, delivers offline-first intelligence with military-grade encryption, engineered for predictive maintenance, human-factors monitoring, video recording, automated trip reporting, and synchronized mission playback — all in one secure solution. Trusted by both leisure and professional operators, including navies, special forces, police, fire, and coast guards around the world, Barnacle sets a new standard for safe, intelligent, mission-ready fleets.
