SeaSEC unites Dutch Defence and industry to counter undersea threats
News

SeaSEC unites Dutch Defence and industry to counter undersea threats

During a recent initiative at Campus@Sea in The Hague, 12 consortia from the survey industry joined forces with the Dutch Ministry of Defence at the Seabed Security Experimentation Centre (SeaSEC). As part of the SeaSEC Challenge Weeks 2025, held from 12 to 23 May, they conducted sea trials to explore how their technologies could contribute to securing critical underwater infrastructure in the North and Baltic Seas.

The protection of vital submarine infrastructure for data traffic and energy supply is becoming more complex and urgent due to increasing threats arising from geopolitical tensions. Incidents such as the sabotage of the Nord Stream pipelines in 2022 have demonstrated the vulnerability of this infrastructure, underlining the urgent need for innovative security solutions.

SeaSEC was established in 2023 within the framework of the Northern Naval Capability Cooperation (NNCC) by defence ministries of six NATO countries bordering the North and Baltic Seas. The centre stimulates and accelerates the development of technologies that can detect suspicious situations and strengthen the security of submarine infrastructure. An important aspect of this is the collaboration between armed forces, companies and knowledge institutions.

The 2025 SeaSEC Challenge Weeks mark a milestone in SeaSEC’s still-young history, bringing together an unprecedented number of collaborating civil parties to test and demonstrate solutions. This year’s edition once again offered a compelling showcase of cutting-edge technology at SeaSEC’s maritime testing grounds off the coast of Scheveningen. The initiative challenges industry players to prove their capabilities in protecting undersea infrastructure, driving rapid innovation in defence solutions.

Teledyne Geospatial was one of the key participants in the 2025 edition of the SeaSEC Challenge Weeks.

Quick solutions

“By demonstrating the products in practice, we show the Ministry of Defence directly what is possible now,” says Carine van Bentum, director at SeaSEC. “This helps the Ministry to quickly arrive at solutions, instead of launching a lengthy process involving extensive deliberation about the final design. Such a process can take years, and we simply don’t have that kind of time given the current and growing threat. We want to get the right solution in the water as soon as possible. With this practical approach, we bring together the military and civilian sides, which speeds up the entire process.”

Field tests

The demonstrations took place in a ten by ten nautical mile testing ground just off the coast near The Hague. The consortia were given three specific assignments:

  1. Locate and track an autonomous underwater vehicle (AUV) within a designated area of ​​1km².
  2. Locate and identify multiple suspicious objects placed on top of, near, half-buried near or under a designated section of pipeline within a time limit.
  3. Detect anomalies on a designated area of ​​1km² of seabed in shallow water.

Fugro operated a local operating centre (LOC) on-site, enabling the real-time streaming of video feeds and sensor data from its USV and eROV as they identified unknown objects on the seabed.

Promising results

Van Bentum is enthusiastic about the results so far: “Some solutions are actually ready to use – perhaps not exactly for the application we have in mind, but they also inspire us for other uses.” She specifically highlights a few promising technologies, including Teledyne’s Lidar system: “If you can actually see 30 metres deep in the North Sea with it, you significantly expand your perspective compared to an underwater solution. The optical hydrophones from Optics11 that I’ve seen are also very promising.”

The goal of SeaSEC and the Challenge Weeks is to bring The Ministry of Defence and industry together. “I can already see some great connections being made,” says Van Bentum. She urges companies in the survey industry to continue reaching out to SeaSEC in The Hague after the 2025 Challenge Weeks to test their technology.

This year’s edition once again offered a compelling showcase of cutting-edge technology at SeaSEC’s maritime testing grounds off the coast of The Hague.
Hydrography Newsletter

Value staying current with hydrography?

Stay on the map with our expertly curated newsletters.

We provide educational insights, industry updates, and inspiring stories from the world of hydrography to help you learn, grow, and navigate your field with confidence. Don't miss out - subscribe today and ensure you're always informed, educated, and inspired by the latest in hydrographic technology and research.

Choose your newsletter(s)