US boatbuilder trials AI whale-detection technology

New Jersey boatbuilder Viking Yacht Company is evaluating WhaleSpotter whale-detection technology aboard its new Viking 70 Convertible demonstration boat. The system, which uses thermal cameras and artificial intelligence (AI) to detect whales ahead of moving vessels, can be used to alert captains in good time.

Atlantic Marine Electronics, a Viking subsidiary, installed the system on the test yacht’s tuna tower using a removable mount. The camera and processing computer sit within a single unit, while a tablet at the helm shows thermal images alongside the estimated distance and bearing of detected whales. An audible alert notifies the captain when a whale is spotted.

WhaleSpotter reports reliable detection at distances of 2–3 nautical miles, day or night, depending on camera height and whale size, and claims its software distinguishes whales from waves, spray and other activity on the water.

Technology offers time to react

“Seeing a whale two or three miles ahead gives a captain time to make a small course correction to avoid it,” says Shawn Henry, CEO of WhaleSpotter, which specialises in sportfishing vessels. “That’s the value of long-range detection. Captains can identify a potential risk and respond well before the vessel gets close to the whale.”

The system collected data during the yacht’s recent trip from New Jersey to Florida, although no whales were detected. It will stay aboard during regular operations. Viking will also demonstrate it at the Fort Lauderdale International Boat Show from 28 October to 1 November. According to WhaleSpotter, this is its first demonstration on a sportfishing yacht.

Since 2022, Viking has worked with technology partners, including Viam, to evaluate systems intended to reduce vessel strikes.

“We’re seeing tremendous progress in whale-detection technology, and these systems are becoming more practical and accessible for recreational boats,” says John DePersenaire, Viking’s director of government affairs and sustainability. “The WhaleSpotter demonstration is another example of technology that’s available today and can help captains avoid whales. We want to demonstrate these capabilities in real-world boating conditions.”

Partnerships and testing

Viking and industry partners formed the Whale and Vessel Safety (WAVS) Taskforce in late 2022, focusing particularly on the endangered North Atlantic right whale. Its 24-foot Contender research boat carries thermal imaging, radar and AI detection equipment.

The boat is finishing a season in Plymouth, Massachusetts. Visitors included National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) personnel, National Fish and Wildlife Foundation board members and marine electronics companies. The team conducted manoeuvres and examined National Marine Electronics Association vessel data to assess how responses to detections can be tracked. Plans are being developed for winter operations in the South Atlantic.

NOAA is considering changes to the 2008 vessel speed rule, which requires most vessels of 65ft or longer to travel at 10 knots or less in designated East Coast Seasonal Management Areas at certain times of year. President Donald Trump’s 17 September executive order directed NOAA to use advances in avoidance technology and coordinate with the private sector. Viking is now urging the agency to propose a rule incorporating technology-based measures.

“The technology has advanced significantly since the 2008 rule was adopted,” DePersenaire says. “Through WAVS, we’ve been working to demonstrate that these systems can detect whales and give captains the information they need to avoid them. WhaleSpotter illustrates the rapid pace at which whale-detection technologies are being commercialised and put into use.”

Years of research toppped off with AI

WhaleSpotter grew out of more than a decade of research at Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution. Co-founder Dr Daniel Zitterbart helped develop the technology, which uses AI trained on whale and ocean imagery. The company reports more than 70 systems deployed worldwide, including commercial vessel installations and shore-based monitoring sites.

“Our research covers different whale species under a wide range of conditions,” Henry says. “We can often identify a North Atlantic right whale by the distinctive V shape of its blow. That allows us to distinguish it from a humpback whale, for example, and gives captains more information about what they’re seeing.”