Zelim, a specialist in AI-powered maritime safety technology, has signed a Cooperative Research and Development Agreement (CRADA) with the U.S. Navy’s Naval Undersea Warfare Center (NUWC), Division Newport, to trial its ZOE Shield detection system during BlueTIDE 2025.
The agreement enables Zelim to take part in the high-profile demonstration event led by 401 Tech Bridge, NavalX, and the Northeast Tech Bridge. The final in-water trials are scheduled for 28 August in Narragansett Bay, Rhode Island.
Zelim is among a select group of international companies chosen for the 2025 BlueTIDE Prize Challenge following a competitive selection process. This year’s scenario focuses on defending critical subsea infrastructure from threats posed by uncrewed and small crewed surface vessels.
ZOE Shield, derived from Zelim’s award-winning ZOE Man Overboard (MOB) system, uses AI to detect and classify surface vessels operating without AIS and under conditions where radar or GPS-based systems may be ineffective. The system can identify covert activity and provide automated early warnings—key capabilities as naval forces look to strengthen situational awareness against agile threats.
“Participating in BlueTIDE gives us the opportunity to trial ZOE Shield in an operational defence environment alongside active US Navy assets,” said Sam Mayall, Zelim’s CEO and co-founder. “This is about closing the gap between detection and decision in increasingly unpredictable threat environments.”
The demonstration will assess ZOE’s ability to track and alert operators to small, fast-moving surface craft approaching sensitive installations. It also highlights Zelim’s growing role in the defence domain, building on the company’s experience in offshore and cruise safety applications.
ZOE Shield’s resilience to radar jamming and GPS denial makes it particularly suited to contested marine environments. Data from the demonstration will support future capability assessments by the U.S. Navy as it explores AI-based solutions for layered maritime security.
