Israel’s Ashdod port has taken a $650,000 stake in local maritime tech startup Azimut.ai following a successful pilot of the company’s AI-powered maritime awareness system, Albatross.

The investment, made through the port’s Maritime Technology Hub (Blue Ocean CVC), follows a proof-of-concept that demonstrated the system’s ability to detect, classify, and track vessels in real time — even when radar or AIS data is unavailable.

The Albatross system is now being rolled out across multiple sites, including ports, offshore installations, and government agencies. Azimut.ai said the new funding will support its expansion in Israel and abroad.

Ashdod Port chairman Shaul Schneider said the deal reflects the company’s strategy of converting pilot projects into operational tools that improve port safety and efficiency. “This is innovation that doesn’t stay in the lab but becomes part of how the port operates,” he said.

The Maritime Technology Hub supports about 100 startups a year across sectors such as logistics, cybersecurity, and operations. Many of these companies have already integrated their technologies at Ashdod or through the port’s overseas innovation centres in Barcelona and New Jersey.