Unseenlabs, a French startup, monitors covert marine vessels globally via satellite technology.
In the vast expanse of the world's oceans, maintaining accurate and secure surveillance is a daunting task. However, a French startup, Unseenlabs, is making significant strides in revolutionising maritime surveillance using satellite technology.
Approximately 35% of the time, a ship's position remains unknown or incorrect, according to experts. This issue is compounded by the fact that 10,000 tons of oil are dumped into the ocean every year, with 99% of polluters never identified. Unseenlabs, founded in 2015 by brothers Clément Galic and Jonathan Galic, is addressing these challenges head-on.
The company's nanosatellites can detect electromagnetic emissions from any vessel with onboard electronics, including those that have switched off their cooperative identification systems such as AIS. This groundbreaking technology has proven valuable to defence forces, commercial actors like insurers and shipping companies, and has been used by the French Navy.
Unseenlabs' innovation lies in its ability to geolocate emitters with a single satellite, allowing for quick and reliable scanning of a 500-kilometer zone without loss of data. The company launched its first satellite in 2019 and now operates a fleet of 16 proprietary satellites, with another launch imminent.
The satellites are launched via SpaceX rockets, in partnership with integrators like Exotrail. Before sending data abroad, Unseenlabs must obtain an export license from the French authorities, particularly when clients are government agencies. The data can be delivered in various formats: geospatial maps, raw data files, or high-level analysis performed by Unseenlabs' team of maritime analysts based in Brest, France.
Security and sovereignty are top priorities for Unseenlabs, with the data never leaving their control until it's securely delivered to clients. The technology developed by Unseenlabs can geolocate and characterize the electromagnetic signatures of ship emitters, regardless of weather conditions, day or night, and anywhere in the world. However, it should be noted that the system can only detect what is above water, meaning it cannot track submarines.
Unseenlabs is fiercely independent and handles its entire technology stack, from satellite construction to data processing. The company's RF intelligence system has proven invaluable in combating maritime piracy, which costs the global economy $25 billion annually. Unseenlabs is also contributing to the fight against undersea cable sabotage, a growing issue often carried out by ships that deliberately switch off their AIS to avoid detection.
Backed by three fundraising rounds, including a recent €85 million investment in 2024, Unseenlabs is preparing for its next leap: a second, larger constellation set to launch in 2026, extending coverage from maritime to terrestrial, aerial, and space surveillance.
Other companies and startups are also contributing to the advancement of satellite technology in various ways, including propulsion, navigation, and data analysis, which can be applied to improve maritime surveillance. Notable examples include Kineis, Exotrail, LookUp Space, Thales, Safran.AI (formerly Preligens), D-Orbit and EnduroSat, each bringing unique capabilities to the table.
As the world's oceans continue to face numerous challenges, innovations like those developed by Unseenlabs are providing much-needed solutions, ensuring the safety and security of our global maritime environment.
- Unseenlabs' technology, which can geolocate emitters with a single satellite, is of significant value to the cybersecurity industry, as it can detect electromagnetic emissions from vessels with onboard electronics.
- In the field of finance, insurers and shipping companies have found Unseenlabs' innovations beneficial, as they can now have reliable and secure data about the positions of ships, thus reducing potential losses.
- Space-and-astronomy Industry is also engaged with Unseenlabs, as the company launches its satellites via SpaceX rockets, in partnership with integrators like Exotrail.
- The science and technology sector has also seen advancements due to Unseenlabs, as its data can be used for high-level analysis, contributing to the understanding of maritime behavior and patterns.
- In the construction and infrastructure business, the reliable and secure data provided by Unseenlabs can have implications for managing and maintaining water resources, as potential oil leaks can be identified and addressed promptly.
