Europe’s maritime borders are vast, dynamic, and challenging to monitor in real time. Today, large parts of the sea remain outside adequate surveillance coverage.
MARCONNECT is a Horizon Europe Research and Innovation project that tackles this gap by turning civilian vessels into active contributors to maritime situational awareness.
The project introduces Vessel-Connected Services, a secure, voluntary approach that enables civilian vessels to share outward-looking sensor data, such as radar, with Coast Guard Authorities. This expands maritime surveillance coverage cost-effectively, without replacing existing systems.
In return, vessel owners gain access to tailored digital services and real-time connectivity, creating a win–win ecosystem for authorities, operators, and service providers.
Over the next 36 months, MARCONNECT will design, test, and validate this approach together with Coast Guards, law enforcement agencies, industry, and research partners across Europe, strengthening maritime security while respecting privacy and data protection by design.
Follow the project to stay updated as we move from concept to real-world use cases at sea.
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