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Maritime authorities, port administrations and governmental infrastructure operators face increasing requirements for underwater situational awareness – particularly around critical coastal and harbor facilities. Security strategies for ports and coastal infrastructure have traditionally focused on surface and airspace surveillance, while underwater environments remain complex and less visible.

To showcase how passive acoustic imaging is revolutionizing underwater monitoring, gfai tech invites industry professionals to attend the live webinar, ‘Seeing Underwater with Sound – Passive Acoustic Imaging with SeaStar24,’ on March 26, 2026.

Passive acoustic imaging for underwater security monitoring

HydroVision SeaStar24 addresses this gap through passive acoustic imaging. The system enables the spatial localization and visualization of underwater acoustic activity without transmitting acoustic signals, providing emission-free monitoring in sensitive maritime environments.

"Underwater security monitoring requires technologies that provide effective situational awareness while remaining discreet and environmentally compatible," said Philip Höhna, CEO of gfai tech GmbH. "SeaStar24’s passive approach allows authorities to enhance their subsea awareness without introducing additional acoustic emissions or detectable signatures."

The 24-channel hydrophone array system uses advanced beamforming to visualize acoustic activity in 2D and 3D in real time. Unlike active sonar systems, SeaStar24 operates entirely passively, maintaining a low acoustic footprint suitable for regulated coastal areas and public-sector environments.

Application contexts for port and coastal security

Harbor and port security

SeaStar24 may support monitoring of underwater zones near docks and terminals, localization of unusual subsea acoustic activity, awareness of vessel-related underwater interaction, and support for coordinated surface and subsea monitoring strategies. Capabilities depend on configuration and environmental conditions.

Coastal infrastructure protection

For governmental agencies responsible for coastal installations, passive acoustic imaging may assist in observing activity near underwater structures, monitoring areas adjacent to maritime infrastructure, supporting security assessments in regulated zones, and complementing radar and surface-based systems.

Underwater activity localization

Depending on system configuration and deployment geometry, SeaStar24 may assist in identifying acoustic signatures associated with human underwater movement, equipment-related acoustic sources, subsea operational activity, and vessel-proximity acoustic patterns.

The system does not classify or identify intent. It provides spatial acoustic visualization to support informed decision-making. Operational performance depends on environmental conditions and project scope.

Integration into governmental monitoring systems

HydroVision SeaStar24 is currently available as a pre-series (zero-series) platform intended for project-based deployment. The system can support integration into:

• Coastal monitoring networks
• Port security infrastructures
• Surface and radar surveillance systems
• Command and control environments
• Multi-sensor maritime monitoring frameworks

System parameters and processing architecture can be adapted to site-specific requirements in cooperation with governmental partners.

Environmental and Regulatory Considerations

Public authorities increasingly require monitoring technologies that align with environmental protection frameworks. As an emission-free system, SeaStar24:

• Does not transmit acoustic pulses
• Minimizes ecological impact
• Supports low-impact surveillance concepts
• Aligns with environmentally responsible maritime oversight

This makes the platform suitable for deployment in environmentally sensitive coastal regions where regulatory compliance and environmental compatibility are essential.

Project-Based Implementation for Security Environments

gfai tech is engaging with governmental agencies, port authorities, coastal security operators, and system integrators to configure SeaStar24 for specific security contexts. The pre-series development approach allows customization of deployment architecture, processing parameters, and integration protocols.

Interested authorities and operators are invited to discuss project-based implementation, pilot programs, or cooperative development in coordination with existing security infrastructure or join our live webinar ‘Seeing Underwater with Sound – Passive Acoustic Imaging with SeaStar24,’ on March 26, 2026 via https://www.gfaitech.com/news-events/news/webinar-seeing-underwater-with-sound