Blog: Scott Tonks & Commander Matthew Mitchell, Zelim

Search and rescue (SAR) at sea is a complex task, and despite huge strides in many other areas of public safety, SAR technology has often been slower to develop. For Scott Tonks and Matthew Mitchell from Zelim, this presents both a challenge and an opportunity. They believe that with the right tools and collaboration, SAR operations can be made faster, safer, and more effective. 

One of the biggest gaps, they say, is the lack of AI-enabled sensor systems specifically designed for maritime SAR. “Search theory is well established,” says Matthew, “but it hasn’t been coupled with modern technology in a meaningful way until recently.” Zelim’s AI system, ZOE, was developed to assist with this. It’s designed to support the detection and recognition of people in the water, even in poor conditions, and has shown strong results during testing, particularly in terms of detection range and consistency. 

Fatigue, poor visibility, and environmental challenges often limit human searchers, and that’s where automation and AI can help. “Technology can complement, not replace, human SAR efforts,” says Scott. “It’s about enhancing capability.” 

The team at Zelim has also been looking at how to speed up rescue itself. They’ve worked with partners to test systems like SWIFT, a man overboard recovery device, and GUARDIAN, a vessel that can be operated with or without crew. Both are designed to perform in challenging conditions, while keeping rescuers out of harm’s way. 

Environmental conditions remain a major challenge for SAR teams worldwide, so any technology designed for use at sea must be able to operate reliably in adverse weather. ZOE uses long wave infrared, which helps maintain detection capabilities even in poor visibility, and has been trained to cope with rough seas, tracking movement and predicting where people may reappear after disappearing behind waves. 

Collaboration with SAR professionals has been central to this development process. Zelim worked closely with the US Coast Guard through a Cooperative Research and Development Agreement, testing ZOE alongside existing SAR tools and processes. The goal, they explain, is to ensure that any technology introduced can be easily integrated into current systems, rather than requiring a complete overhaul. 

The company recently joined the IMRF to strengthen ties with the wider SAR community. “We’re particularly interested in collaborating with other organisations that share the goal of improving safety at sea,” says Matthew. “Whether it’s through direct partnerships or sharing knowledge, we want to be part of that wider conversation.” 

Looking ahead, Zelim is continuing to explore how different industries can work together to improve SAR outcomes, from adapting commercial vessel tech to support real-time incident reporting, to using drones and other tools for quicker response. The hope is that through ongoing innovation and collaboration, global SAR capabilities can continue to improve over the next decade.