Skytek has been awarded a significant contract by the European Space Agency (ESA) to develop Geospatial Information Networking (GSIN) Techniques for Maritime Awareness Services
Dublin, Ireland – April 8, 2025
The project is designed to enhance maritime domain awareness (MDA) by delivering state-of-the-art software tools that enable European nations to better monitor, protect, and manage their territorial waters and exclusive economic zones (EEZ), particularly in light of growing geopolitical tensions and increasingly complex maritime threats.
With maritime borders facing heightened pressure from both traditional and non-traditional security risks, the GSIN project will play a vital role in supporting European navies, coast guards and civil authorities. The system will fuse data from multiple sources, including Earth Observation (EO) satellite imagery, radar, AIS, and other maritime sensors. Combined with artificial intelligence and machine learning, this approach will enable more accurate detection and classification of vessels, including those operating without transponders.
The solution will also support a wide range of use cases including the tracking of unmanned and non-cooperative vessels, fuel and route optimisation, weather and environmental monitoring, and emergency response coordination.
Capt. Gabriel Zervi, Head of Marine at Skytek, emphasised the importance of combining radar surveillance and AI-powered analytics to create a truly integrated maritime picture. Dr Sarah Bourke, CEO of Skytek, commented, “This contract reflects our team’s excellence in space and software engineering. We are proud to be applying that expertise in support of Europe’s maritime safety and strategic interests.”
The project is already in progress, with the major design phase completed. A new development phase will commence later this year, focusing on the operational deployment of the GSIN system.
The initiative is co-funded by the Irish contribution to ESA’s ARTES programme, supported by Enterprise Ireland, and Skytek’s internal investment in its Real World platform. Real World is a cloud-based solution that delivers real-time operational insight and situational awareness across marine, aerospace, insurance and security sectors.
About Skytek
Skytek is a leading provider of intelligent software solutions for aerospace and critical industries. With a focus on innovation and collaboration, Skytek empowers professionals with intuitive and reliable tools to ensure safety, efficiency, and success in complex environments.
For media inquiries or further information, please contact:
Bruna Nunes
Marketing Communications Manager
Email: Bruna.Nunes@skytek.com
