AI Footage Reveals Key Insights into Dangerous Maritime Collision Off Grimsby

Newly released video footage from advanced AI-powered cameras has provided crucial insights into the collision between the container ship MV Solong and the U.S.-flagged tanker Stena Immaculate off the port of Grimsby. The footage, recorded by Orca AI’s SeaPod lookout unit on the tanker Ionic Aspis, shows the exact moment of impact. Two separate videos, one from day cameras and another from thermal cameras, highlight the dense fog that likely obstructed the Solong crew’s visibility and vividly capture the container ship’s approach and the explosion upon impact.

Orca AI’s CEO and Co-founder, Yarden Gross, emphasized the vulnerability of maritime navigation, especially in poor visibility conditions. Despite technological advancements, crews still rely heavily on traditional navigation tools that struggle with target detection in low visibility conditions, rough weather, and dense fog. Gross highlighted the role AI can play in preventing similar accidents in the future by enhancing situational awareness, optimizing response times, and reducing risks through smarter, data-driven decision-making tools.

The video evidence has been handed over to UK authorities investigating the collision, which resulted in the arrest of Solong’s captain on suspicion of gross negligence manslaughter. The incident, which also left one crew member missing and presumed dead, has sparked discussions on navigation safety, technology integration, and the importance of AI-assisted decision-making in high-risk maritime environments. AI-powered systems can help ships operate with greater autonomy, assisting crews in navigating safely and efficiently.

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