The chief information security officer of the Port of Los Angeles reported that cyberattack attempts rose from approximately 7 million per month in 2014 to 60 million per month in 2024.

At the same time, the International Maritime Bureau (IMB) recorded 116 piracy and armed robbery incidents in 2024 compared with 120 in 2023. However, the number of crew taken hostage rose to 126 in 2024 from 73 in 2023.

This divergence between incident frequency and severity is shifting budget allocation toward persistent multi-sensor surveillance, AI-enabled behavioral analytics, autonomous systems, and audit-ready cyber architectures.

Legacy port security stacks separate radar, video, and cyber monitoring into siloed systems and create blind spots at the exact moment attack velocity is increasing. As ports digitize cranes, vessel traffic systems, and logistics platforms, maritime security requires the fusion of physical and network-layer telemetry.

This architectural shift is opening space for innovation-led startups that build sensor-native, edge-compute-enabled, and cyber-physical AI-driven maritime domain awareness platforms from the ground up.

Maritime Security Technology Trends

Embedded Surveillance and Multimodal Sensing

Effective monitoring of maritime activity depends on multimodal fusion across radar, electro-optical/infrared (EO/IR) cameras, LiDAR, sonar, inertial navigation systems, automatic identification system (AIS) feeds, and satellite observations. Data fusion mitigates sea clutter, adverse weather interference, and signal ambiguity. This enables reliable vessel classification and anomaly detection in complex maritime conditions.

Further, orbital inputs extend multimodal maritime surveillance coverage beyond terrestrial radar and patrol range. For example, ESAIL satellite systems process more than 2 million AIS messages per day from approximately 70 000 unique vessels. It forms a layer of space-based maritime tracking for environmental enforcement and security monitoring.

Sentinel-1D synthetic aperture radar (SAR), when combined with automatic identification system (AIS) overlays, enables wide-area vessel detection through cloud cover and darkness. It is expanding persistent monitoring capacity across oceanic corridors.

Operational deployment reflects this integrated surveillance model. For instance, Denmark deployed Saildrone uncrewed surface vehicles (USVs) in the Baltic Sea. They deliver maritime awareness in real time using onboard sensors, cameras, and AI to safeguard undersea infrastructure.

Autonomous ISR Systems and Persistent Maritime Presence

Governments and defense operators deploy uncrewed systems for intelligence, surveillance, and reconnaissance, mine countermeasures, and infrastructure protection missions.

The BlueWhale unmanned underwater vehicle (UUV) exemplifies this shift. The 10.9-meter submarine platform supports ISR, acoustic reconnaissance, and mine detection missions with an endurance of up to four weeks.

Moreover, BAE Systems is developing an autonomous submarine, Herne, to undertake a range of missions in the underwater battlespace.

Anduril also announced Seabed Sentry, a deep-sea sensor network that utilizes autonomous AI to provide persistent awareness of the seafloor.

Space-based Maritime Security Infrastructure

Satellite AIS, synthetic aperture radar, and Earth observation platforms provide continuous coverage across vast ocean regions where terrestrial radar and patrol vessels cannot maintain continuous coverage.

Such solutions support illegal fishing detection, sanctions enforcement, vessel behavior analysis, and route-risk intelligence in international waters. The satellite-based inputs also change maritime monitoring from regional surveillance into globally persistent tracking.

Etihad-SAT, launched in March 2025, applies radar imaging for maritime monitoring under all weather conditions. This includes oil spill detection and navigation safety applications.

Commercial radio frequency intelligence systems detect vessels that disable or spoof AIS transponders by capturing and geolocating emissions independent of AIS broadcasts. HawkEye 360, for instance, operates RF-based satellite clusters for detecting vessels that are operating with inactive AIS transponders.

Maritime Cyber-Physical Convergence & OT Security Integration

In 2017, the NotPetya malware attack disrupted A.P. Moller–Maersk’s global operations. This incident forced the reinstallation of 4000 servers and 45 000 personal computers and temporarily halted port terminal activity worldwide.

Maritime digitization links automated cranes, terminal operating systems (TOS), vessel navigation suites, and smart container platforms to cloud-based logistics infrastructure. This convergence expands the cyber-physical attack surface across ports and fleet operations.

Additionally, maritime cybersecurity firms deploy OT intrusion detection systems that monitor programmable logic controllers (PLCs), vessel engine management systems, and terminal automation networks in real time.

AI-driven Vessel Behavior Analytics and Dark Fleet Detection

Automatic identification system spoofing and deliberate transponder shutdowns complicate maritime enforcement and sanctions monitoring.

AI-driven behavioral analytics platforms analyze historical voyage data, loitering duration, speed inconsistencies, and ship-to-ship transfer patterns to detect high-risk maritime activity.

For example, Windward applies machine-learning risk models to identify deceptive shipping practices, including sanctions evasion and illicit oil transfers. The ML risk models process AIS data points to generate vessel risk profiles for governments and commercial operators.

Similarly, Spire Global integrates satellite AIS with weather and RF data streams to detect anomalous vessel behavior across open ocean routes.

 

 

Key Innovators Redefining Maritime Security

Ladar AI develops Multi-Sensor Technology

UK-based Ladar AI develops the Ladar sensor suite for maritime security and offshore infrastructure protection.

The sensor suite integrates lidar laser sensors, high-resolution optical cameras, and thermal imaging units to detect and track near-proximity surface and subsurface objects in real time.

 

Credit: Ladar AI

 

It processes multi-sensor data through an AI-driven analytics engine that consolidates feeds into a unified command interface for continuous threat identification and rapid decision support.

Additionally, it strengthens detection accuracy in low-visibility, nighttime, and congested maritime environments. The sensor suite also offers automated anti-collision and intrusion detection functionality.

INOVATON specializes in Hardware-led Maritime Surveillance

INOVATON, a Hong Kong-based startup, designs the CARDINAL, a marine aids-to-navigation (AtoN) software platform. The platform manages maritime safety and security assets through centralized monitoring, analytics, and workflow control.

The platform operates as a web-based Software-as-a-Service (SaaS) application that centralizes an AtoN asset database and records all site-specific equipment data. It also logs historical changes, maintenance actions, and operational events across fixed and floating navigation sites.

Its software platform integrates a geographical information system interface that displays real-time site status. Also, the Android-based ruggedized tablet application enables offline maintenance data entry with automated synchronization upon reconnection.

Further, CARDINAL automates failure tracking, outage response management, availability calculation by AtoN category, and mean time to repair benchmarking.

ELNAV.AI offers Real-time Maritime Video-Analytics Monitoring

Croatian startup ELNAV.AI builds AI-driven bridge and maritime surveillance systems for operational and environmental security.

Its Aware Mate platform uses computer-vision facial and eye-tracking analytics to detect fatigue and distraction among watchkeepers in real time, identifying reduced alertness and prolonged gaze on non-operational objects.

The Helm Order Monitor applies automatic speech recognition and bridge-context analysis to verify Helm commands as they occur. Also, the emotion recognition tracks vocal stress patterns to flag cognitive overload during critical maneuvers.

Moreover, Project Sentinel further deploys autonomous underwater gliders equipped with environmental sensors and onboard AI to patrol shipping lanes, sample vessel wakes, and transmit verified evidence of illegal discharges to authorities.

KAHU provides Radar Imagery for Ocean Transparency

Norwegian startup KAHU offers a crowdsourced radar fusion platform for real-time maritime security and domain awareness. The platform processes onboard radar detections through containerized software installed on existing vessel systems and converts raw radar signals into structured metadata locally. It transmits compact detection data to the cloud for aggregation and multi-vessel fusion.

Moreover, the radar fusion platform consolidates radar-based ground-truth detections from multiple vessels to generate real-time and historical visualizations of maritime traffic. It also cross-checks and complements the automatic identification system data to identify discrepancies and detect anomalous vessel behavior.

8bit Ocean digitalizes Maritime Permits-to-Work and Safety Workflows

Latvian startup 8bit Ocean provides SafeBay, a permit-to-work (PTW) management system for maritime safety and operational security.

This PTW management system operates as a progressive web application that runs across desktop and mobile environments. It enables vessel crews and shore-based teams to configure work permits, attach mandatory checklists, and activate controlled workflows. It structures lockout and tagout procedures, task risk assessments, hazard observation cards, and toolbox talks within a unified digital interface.

The system enforces authorization controls and automated safeguards to prevent procedural deviations. Further, it records revisions, expiration timelines, isolation points, and follow-up actions to maintain traceable audit trails that support Health and Safety Guidance 250 (HSG250) and maritime regulatory compliance.

Strategic Investment Driving Maritime Security Technology & Protection Systems

Defense vs Commercial Capital Allocation

According to SIPRI, global military expenditure reached USD 2.44 trillion in 2023 and marks the ninth consecutive year of growth. Naval modernization, subsea infrastructure protection, and intelligence-surveillance-reconnaissance (ISR) programs absorb a major share of this capital.

In contrast, commercial operators like port operators, fleet managers, offshore energy operators, and logistics platforms allocate capital toward compliance alignment, cyber resilience, and operational continuity. Their investment centers on real-time vessel traffic intelligence, route-risk analytics, and more.

M&A: Capability and Geographic Positioning

Capability-driven deals target cybersecurity, AI analytics, satellite intelligence, and autonomous systems.

In 2023, Saab acquired BlueBear Systems Research, a swarm intelligence company that strengthens its autonomous and AI-enabled ISR capabilities. The acquisition demonstrates how maritime technology providers internalize compliance-ready digital capabilities rather than relying on external bolt-ons.

Geographic positioning further influences acquisition decisions. Dual-use export controls and data sovereignty rules fragment global rollout. Acquiring regionally embedded firms allows maritime technology providers to localize hosting environments, embed jurisdiction-specific compliance logic, and configure export-sensitive sensor payloads.

Strategic Implications and Opportunity Map

Partnerships and Acquisitions

Anduril’s acquisition of Dive Technologies expanded its autonomous underwater vehicle portfolio and improved the transition from manned subsea patrol models to persistent, AI-enabled underwater ISR grids. Anduril also strengthens subsea intelligence, surveillance, and reconnaissance capabilities that are relevant to maritime infrastructure protection.

Space-based surveillance providers are similarly pursuing vertical integration. ICEYE, for example, expands SAR constellations to provide near-real-time maritime monitoring.

Geographic expansion also shapes innovation in architecture. For example, Japan’s Economic Security Promotion Act strengthens oversight of critical infrastructure and supply chains. The regulation compels maritime surveillance and port cybersecurity providers to localize hosting, modularize encryption layers, and configure jurisdiction-specific compliance frameworks.

Sovereign Surveillance & National Maritime Modernization Programs

Sovereign maritime modernization programs create a durable opportunity cluster beyond private-sector consolidation. India’s Sagarmala Programme, with investments exceeding USD 120 billion across port modernization and coastal infrastructure, integrates digital surveillance, smart port systems, and coastal monitoring. This shifts port infrastructure from physical expansion toward data-driven maritime domain awareness (MDA).

Further, Australia’s integrated investment program (IIP) allocates approximately AUD 330 billion through 2033-34 to fund naval autonomy, undersea sensing, space-based ISR, cyber-resilient command systems, and multi-domain integration.

Scope and Innovation Architecture

This maritime security innovation outlook draws on the StartUs Insights Discovery Platform to map innovation signals across 9M+ companies, 25K+ technologies & trends, and 190M+ patents, defense publications, and regulatory filings.

The scope treats maritime security as a system spanning maritime domain awareness, autonomous platforms, subsea infrastructure protection, port cybersecurity, and space-based surveillance. It examines how modernization shifts from radar and patrol assets to integrated security architectures.