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Tocaro Blue sees strong potential for collaboration in Norway

Written by Lars Bugge Aarset | Jun 11, 2026 6:37:02 AM

Tocaro Blue is strengthening its European ambitions following participation in the TMA Bluetech Trade Mission Norway in Trondheim. The company is now entering new collaboration initiatives and sees strong opportunities for further partnerships within Norway’s maritime autonomy ecosystem.

Andrew Rains from Tocaro Blue says the visit provided valuable insight into Norway’s maritime autonomy ecosystem and created several new opportunities for partnerships.

Andrew Rains of Tocaro Blue testing underwater drone with Matt Classen from TMA Bluetech and Christian Gabrielsen from Blueye Robotics. Photo: Lars Bugge Aarset/Fremtidens Industri

See also: FarSounder integrates Tocaro Blue technology to enhance marine navigation

Trondheim as an innovation hub

– Trondheim is an innovation hub. It has been very useful to see the activity here, meet the companies, and understand how the ecosystem works, Rains says.

Tocaro Blue develops software for radar processing and marine electro-optical and infrared (EOIR) sensor systems. The company is particularly focused on using machine learning and sensor fusion to improve situational awareness and perception for autonomous and uncrewed vessels.

Its flagship platform, ProteusCore, applies deep neural networks and vessel dynamics algorithms to transform commercial marine radar into advanced perception systems capable of real-time detection, classification, and tracking.

The company has also expanded into AI-powered camera perception through its ApolloCore platform, designed to strengthen multi-sensor awareness for autonomous maritime operations.

Andrew Rains, Senior Sales Director of Tocaro Blue. Photo: Lars Bugge Aarset/Fremtidens Industri

See also: Smarter radar for autonomous operations: Tocaro Blue joins Ocean Autonomy Cluster

Building partnerships in Norway

During the visit, Tocaro Blue highlighted networking and knowledge exchange as key outcomes, particularly within the maritime autonomy and sensor technology ecosystem.

Rains points to engagement with several Norwegian companies working across autonomy and advanced maritime systems, including Kongsberg Maritime, Maritime Robotics, Water Linked, Zeabuz and SentiSystems.

– We want to establish relationships and foster the use of our software in Europe. Norway has an impressive maritime innovation environment, and we see strong opportunities for collaboration here, Rains says.

The company is already involved in an ongoing collaboration project related to dark vessel detection together with several member companies in the cluster.

Havoc.AI's Rampage USV running Tocaro Blue software with the Furuno radar.

See also: Furuno and Tocaro Blue to Advance Radar-Based Perception for Autonomous Marine Systems

Learning from the Norwegian cluster model

Rains also highlights the close interaction between academia, startups, industry, and cluster organizations in Trondheim as something the company sees significant value in.

– There is a lot we can learn here, especially in how clusters foster relationships and drive innovation between companies, he says.

TMA BlueTech and Ocean Autonomy Cluster have both been central platforms during the visit and in Tocaro Blue’s growing engagement in Europe.

Tocaro Blue joined Ocean Autonomy Cluster in 2025 to strengthen collaboration around radar intelligence, sensor fusion, and autonomous maritime operations. The company stated at the time that it wanted to connect with partners interested in joint projects, testing, and machine-learning development for autonomous systems.

The company is headquartered in the southeastern United States, with test boat operations in Pensacola, Florida, and its R&D office in Birmingham, Alabama. Tocaro Blue currently has 21 employees and is aiming to further expand its European presence through partnerships in the maritime autonomy and defense sectors.

Photo: Lars Bugge Aarset/Fremtidens Industri

See also: Tocaro Blue boosts marine vision with ApolloCore