Given the rising global threats to energy and underwater industries' infrastructure—including offshore installations, pipelines, and cables—many European countries are enhancing their security measures. In response, Germany has awarded €2.4 million to the Argus project, designed to boost maritime situational awareness for critical subsea infrastructure through advanced big data and AI technologies. Launched in June 2024, this two-year project involves a partnership between north.io, GEOMAR Helmholtz Centre for Ocean Research Kiel, and Subsea Europe Services. The initiative aims to integrate extensive underwater sensor data with AI tools to enable real-time monitoring and rapid response to potential threats. The success of the project relies on close collaboration to address and manage the protection challenges facing subsea infrastructure.

Project timeline details:

Project launch: June 1, 2024

Development Phase: Initial stages focus on developing the new generation of the ocean data management platform, incorporating AI-powered tools for anomaly detection and risk assessment.

Implementation Phase: Ongoing throughout the project's duration, involving the integration of underwater sensor data and real-time monitoring systems.

Testing Phase: Continuous testing of track-planning software and AI models by Subsea Europe Services and GEOMAR.

Final Phase: Expected completion in June 2026, with the final system in place and operational for enhanced subsea infrastructure security.