BY THE OPTIMIST DAILY EDITORIAL TEAM
A revolutionary artificial intelligence-powered detection system is helping ships avoid a tragic and often invisible threat: collisions with whales. Known as WhaleSpotter, this cutting-edge system alerts ship captains in real time when whales are in their path, giving them the opportunity to change course and prevent fatal accidents.
A shoebox-sized solution
The system itself is deceptively simple. A small box, no bigger than a shoebox, is mounted on a ship’s deck, scanning the ocean with highly stabilized heat-sensing cameras. When a spout of warm whale breath is detected against the cool mist of the sea, the system kicks into action. A neural network trained on millions of similar snippets analyzes the footage, comparing it to its database to determine if a whale is present.
Once the AI makes its call, a remote human expert steps in to verify the detection. “We cannot afford to ever miss an animal,” says Daniel Zitterbart, a biophysicist at Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution and the lead scientist behind WhaleSpotter. Within a minute, the expert relays the alert to the ship’s captain, providing enough time to adjust course and avoid what would otherwise be a fatal encounter.
Scaling up for bigger impact
Since its early research trials in 2019, WhaleSpotter has made impressive progress. The system was initially tested on ferries, research vessels, and cruise ships, as well as from land-based installations along the east and west coasts of North America and parts of the Southern Ocean. In 2024 alone, the global WhaleSpotter network recorded more than 51,000 marine mammal detections—a dramatic leap from just 78 in its first year.
Yet, despite its success, adoption remains slow. Currently, only a handful of ships receive real-time alerts, and they tend to be smaller vessels. The biggest challenge? Convincing large container ships to adopt the technology.
Container ships, which are enormous and difficult to maneuver, are one of the leading causes of whale fatalities. “Peering out from a cargo ship’s bridge high above the waves, especially at night or in fog, a captain may struggle to see a whale soon enough to shift the course of the vessel,” explains Zitterbart. Given that many container ships stretch over 250 meters (800 feet) long, a late warning can be the difference between life and death for an endangered whale.
Adapting the technology for massive ships
To tackle this issue, Zitterbart and his team recently partnered with the Hawaii-based Matson Navigation Company to refine WhaleSpotter for use on large container ships. Unlike smaller vessels, these ships require significantly more time and space to change course. However, they also offer a higher vantage point, which the WhaleSpotter team is leveraging to improve detection range.
By testing longer-range cameras and fine-tuning the system’s stabilization settings, researchers have successfully extended WhaleSpotter’s detection capability to nearly six kilometers (four miles). While Matson’s ships are not yet receiving real-time alerts, the collaboration marks a significant step toward integrating the technology on larger commercial vessels. “I think we’re almost there,” says Zitterbart, optimistic about the progress.
Keoni Wagner, a spokesperson for Matson, is equally hopeful. “We are excited by the early results. Assuming the system achieves current expectations, we plan to expand use to our entire domestic fleet.”
Why does real-time detection matter?
John Calambokidis, a marine biologist with the nonprofit Cascadia Research Collective, emphasizes that ship-whale collisions require a multi-pronged approach. “Broadly, there are three strategies: shift vessels’ routes, slow them down, and use real-time detection to avoid whales,” he says. While the first two strategies have received significant attention, the third has been largely overlooked—until now.
WhaleSpotter’s reliance on thermal imaging offers a critical advantage: It works just as well at night as it does during the day. This is key because many whale species, including the critically endangered North Atlantic right whale, spend more time near the surface at night. With fewer than 370 individuals remaining, every whale that avoids a collision could be vital for the species’ survival.
WhaleSpotter is not the only AI-powered thermal detection system in the industry. Other companies, such as Awarion and SEA.AI, have developed similar technology. However, Zitterbart insists that his system is different. “WhaleSpotter is purpose-built for marine conservation,” he says. Unlike other systems that rely purely on AI, WhaleSpotter incorporates human verification to eliminate false alarms. “Many people said, ‘Isn’t that overkill? Can’t we get rid of that?’” Zitterbart recalls. But his response remains firm: ship captains must receive only accurate, necessary alerts to prevent alert fatigue and ensure they take action.
The future of WhaleSpotter
Zitterbart envisions a future where WhaleSpotter is used on hundreds of vessels, creating a vast, interconnected network of whale detection data. “The true power will come to life once there are hundreds of vessels using this tech,” he explains. “Then the collected information can be shared in real time with vessels not using the technology, too.”
While the system has officially spun off into a for-profit company, its mission remains conservation-driven. The ultimate goal is simple: fewer whales struck by ships, fewer lives lost. “Every single whale that is not struck because of the technology is a success,” Zitterbart says.
As the technology advances and adoption expands, WhaleSpotter may prove to be one of the most effective tools yet in the fight to protect marine life from human impact. And with every successful detection, the ocean becomes just a little bit safer for the giants that call it home.
