ADAPT Research Ireland Centre at Trinity College Dublin has been named a finalist in the 2026 Ireland eGovernment Awards in the AI in Public Service Award category for its innovative Sea-Scan project.
Led by Professor Marco Ruffini of Trinity’s School of Computer Science and Statistics and Dr John Kennedy of the School of Engineering, Sea-Scan is developing advanced real-time vessel detection technology to strengthen maritime monitoring and security capabilities.
The project uses existing subsea fibre-optic telecommunications cables as a large-scale sensing network through Distributed Acoustic Sensing (DAS) technology. By analysing subtle changes in light signals travelling through fibre-optic cables, researchers can detect vibrations in the water and seabed, effectively transforming telecommunications infrastructure into a continuous underwater sensing system.
Sea-Scan combines this sensing capability with artificial intelligence and machine learning models trained to identify the acoustic signatures of different vessel types. The aim is to create a fully autonomous, 24/7 maritime monitoring and early warning system capable of detecting suspicious or “dark” vessels operating in Irish and European waters.
The technology has the potential to deliver significant national, economic and environmental benefits. It could enhance the protection of critical maritime infrastructure, strengthen situational awareness for the Defence Forces, and improve the resilience of Ireland’s digital infrastructure through earlier detection of unusual offshore activity. By repurposing existing subsea cable infrastructure, Sea-Scan also offers a cost-effective alternative to deploying new offshore monitoring systems while supporting broader marine environmental monitoring efforts.
The Ireland eGovernment Awards recognise excellence in digital transformation, innovation and public service delivery. Being shortlisted among a highly competitive field highlights the impact and potential of the Sea-Scan project in advancing the use of AI for public service and national resilience.
