SEA.AI’s advanced optical situational awareness system, Watchkeeper, has been fully integrated into the USV12— a 12-meter Unmanned Surface Vessel (USV) Naval Vessel developed by VN Maritime and Havelsan in partnership with Piloda Defence and VN Maritime Shipyard.
The USV12 is a naval vessel that can be configured for either crewed or fully autonomous operations. It is a collaborative development between VN Maritime and Havelsan, with support from Piloda Defence. Based on the patented Rafnar ÖK Hull, the USV12 represents a new generation of multi-role naval systems which offers exceptional stability and safety, even in challenging sea conditions.
“With the USV12 project, our ambition is to bring together proven seakeeping performance with advanced autonomous capabilities,” said Orkun Özek, Chairman of VN Maritime. “Our partnership with Havelsan demonstrates how our engineering can successfully merge innovation and operational reliability, offering a robust platform for both defense and search and rescue missions.”
“The collaboration on USV12 confirms Havelsan’s dedication to shaping the future of unmanned naval technologies,” said Deniz Remzi Dumlu, Director of Naval Programs at Havelsan. “By combining VN Maritime’s expertise in high-performance naval platforms with Havelsan’s integrated mission systems, we are creating a solution that will strengthen maritime security and enhance operational effectiveness for our partners.”
Measuring 12 meters in length, the USV12 is designed for real-world missions across defense, maritime security, and search and rescue. It delivers high-speed performance, exceeding 40 knots, while maintaining exceptional stability and wave-impact reduction through its patented Rafnar hull. Equipped with advanced onboard systems and autonomous capabilities, the USV12 represents a new benchmark in hybrid naval operations.
“With the USV12 project, our goal is not only to address immediate operational needs in search and rescue, surveillance and military tasks, but also to deliver solutions that integrate automation, reliability and high operational standards,” states Donato Di Palo, CEO of Piloda Shipyard Division and Co-Founder of Piloda Group.
Watchkeeper, the latest innovation from SEA.AI, the leader in maritime machine vision since 2018, is a key component of the USV12’s autonomy and mission-readiness. Drawing on years of experience providing advanced optical systems to commercial and government operators, Watchkeeper enables real-time detection and classification of radar-invisible or non-cooperative objects, including small boats, fast-moving or low-profile floating hazards, and individuals in the water.
Fully integrated into the USV12’s mission and control architecture, Watchkeeper enhances autonomous and crew-optional navigation in low-visibility, high-traffic, or GPS- and AIS-denied maritime environments. It enables reliable object tracking and visual detection even at night, providing real-time alerts for collision risks or perimeter breaches, supporting both navigation safety and mission-specific surveillance tasks.
“This integration shows that optical AI is now a critical layer for autonomous naval operations,” said Marcus Warrelmann, CEO of SEA.AI. “We’re proud to support our partners in delivering platforms that are both technically advanced and field-ready.”
As autonomous vessels increasingly play a role in naval, security, and search and rescue operations, optical and thermal vision systems are essential to situational awareness and mission reliability.
SEA.AI’s Watchkeeper delivers the real-time visual intelligence necessary for safe and effective performance in complex maritime environments.
