Azimut|Benetti Group’s R&D Department and marine-tech innovator WATCHIT have developed WATCHIT Eye, the first AI-based collision prevention system for yachting, detecting obstacles from floating objects to vessels and underwater hazards.
Avigliana, November 03, 2025 – Azimut|Benetti Group reveals WATCHIT Eye, the revolutionary AI-based collision prevention system designed specifically for recreational boating. This technology sets a new level for safety at sea: the intuition comes from Azimut|Benetti Group R&D Department, and the technical development is by the marine-tech company WATCHIT, led by former naval commander and seasoned captain Tal Duvdevany.
WATCHIT Eye is not simply an exercise in innovation. It is a journey of shared technological choices, testing, validation, and real-world applications, a promising technology that is already on board the Group’s new models and available for installation across the fleet. The first yacht to boast this innovative technology is the Azimut Fly 82, which made her world debut at the 2025 Cannes Yachting Festival and was then displayed at the Genoa International Boat Show, along with the Seadeck 7 Hybrid, the yacht that embodies the cutting edge of the innovations developed by the Shipyard and the Group’s R&D Department.
Designed specifically for the recreational boating sector, where collisions and groundings are among the main critical issues, WATCHIT Eye marks a paradigm shift in risk management at sea, focusing on alert timing – rather than the distance from an obstacle – and providing the right amount of advance warning to best support the captain. This approach gives the captain ample time to respond to obstacles such as vessels, tenders, ribs and also small objects like kayaks, marking buoys or floating obstacles, but also yacht grounding risks, enhancing safety and significantly reducing the risk of accidents.
Following the first generation of the WATCHIT system, the “Eye” version developed together with Azimut|Benetti Group uses the AI engine to filter real and manageable risks, combining data from various onboard sensors together with a dedicated and custom developed 4D Imaging Radar and alerting the captain only when the detected obstacles pose a genuine risk of collision.
The AI engine underlying this system operates on multiple levels. First, it is designed to emulate the decision-making process of an experienced captain, acting as a co-pilot who performs real-time risk assessments. Furthermore, it enables continuous data collection in the cloud and immediate analysis, and recognizes different navigation modes, adapting the risk warning system to the context: port manoeuvres, open sea cruising, or navigating through congested waters.
Thanks to this information integration, the system is able to identify threats from every direction and generate timely alerts that allow for high levels of concentration and rapid decision-making, simplifying navigation.
In addition, the High Frequency 4D Imaging Radar, compared to average marine radars and cameras, provides excellent short-range detection, precise tracking and target recognition not affected by fog, rain or darkness, with the best ratio of cost to performance.
«The development of WATCHIT Eye demonstrates how our R&D Department is not only focused on the integration of the most advanced technologies in collaboration with our partners, but also on boosting the
adoption of advanced solutions coming from other industries to enhance onboard devices and to create tools that yacht owners truly need. The introduction of this system represents a real advancement in navigation safety, consistent with the Group’s mission to combine innovation and well-being on board,» commented Alessandro Rossi, Chief Product Officer of Azimut|Benetti Group.
«WATCHIT brings proactive safety to the water, automating risk detection so captains can focus on what really matters: safe, confident navigation,» said Tal Duvdevany, CEO of WATCHIT. «With WATCHIT Eye, we’re setting a new standard in how boats understand their surroundings and respond in real time. »
With WATCHIT Eye, Azimut|Benetti Group and WATCHIT offer all owners a revolutionary solution that once again confirms the Group’s leading role in innovation and reinforces WATCHIT’s pioneering role as a new global benchmark in marine safety.
Recognized for its positive impact in making navigation safer, the new system has been shortlisted for the 2025 Boat Builder Awards in the category “Collaborative Solution between a Builder and its Supply Chain Partner.”
