Seiche is pleased to be supporting a collaborative trial project with HX Expeditions and Heriot-Watt University through the deployment of a Smart Visual Detection System (SVDS) onboard HX’s expedition vessel, MS Fram.
The system has been installed to support the Whales & Arctic VEssels (WAVE) project during Fram’s voyage from Dover to Svalbard and throughout the Arctic summer season. Operated by Heriot-Watt University researchers, the trial will explore how advanced visual detection technologies can enhance marine mammal monitoring in remote and environmentally sensitive regions.
The deployment aims to evaluate the potential for continuous 24/7 data collection onboard vessels, including during periods when conventional visual observations are limited by darkness, weather conditions or researcher availability. The project will also assess how collected imagery and detection data can contribute toward the future development of AI-assisted marine mammal identification and real-time alerting capabilities.
In addition to supporting long-term ecological monitoring, the trial also explores operational and educational applications, including increased situational awareness for vessel crews and enhanced engagement opportunities for expedition guests through recorded wildlife encounters and onboard science activities.
As Arctic activity continues to increase, initiatives such as WAVE are helping to improve understanding of cetacean distribution, behaviour and potential exposure to emerging human pressures in a rapidly changing environment. Seiche is proud to support this important collaboration and contribute to the ongoing development of practical technologies for marine mammal observation, mitigation and conservation.
Photo credit: Thanks to Heriot-Watt University and Whales & Arctic VEssels (WAVE) for kindly allowing us to use these photographs.