London – November 03, 2026 -- Windward, the Maritime AI company, has acquired Azimut.ai, a maritime visual intelligence firm, adding an optical sensing layer to its multi-source platform and moving into ground and ship-based sensors for the first time.

Cameras at chokepoints target vessels that stop transmitting

Windward says its current picture draws on AIS, satellite imagery and RF data. Not every vessel transmits, and signals can be switched off, obscured by weather or jammed. Azimut.ai's technology identifies and fingerprints vessels in real time at maritime chokepoints and ports, so ships remain visible even when they go dark.

The plan includes placing cameras at key thoroughfares and chokepoints. Windward will fuse the visual identifications with data already on its platform, including ownership, sanctions, cargo, behavioral intelligence and multiple risk layers. A single sighting then becomes an explainable assessment for government and commercial customers.

System supplies no raw images or video to customers

Windward says the system was built for privacy and security. Customers receive no raw images or footage. It is intended to support analytics on vessel activity, not to identify or verify individuals.

CEO frames deal as first step toward a proprietary sensor layer

Ami Daniel, CEO and co-founder, called the acquisition "our first step in building a proprietary visual intelligence layer." He said owning the assets outright gives customers an edge competitors cannot match.

Windward is also seeking site partners. Daniel invited maritime stakeholders to come forward and host sensors.

The deal fits the three-layer structure of Windward's platform. Multi-source datasets form the base, feeding one all-source operational and intelligence picture. Maritime AI sits on top, covering behavioral pattern recognition, vessel verification and anomaly detection. Partnership is the third layer.