The SeaSEC Challenge Weeks are a unique multinational initiative designed to strengthen the protection of critical underwater infrastructure. Suspicious behaviour near critical infrastructure at sea, along with actual acts of sabotage, have demonstrated that the systems powering our data, energy, and internet networks are at risk of security threats. Industry, governments, navies as well as research and technology organisations collaborate in a live exercise, focusing on the protection of our critical underwater infrastructure.

The 2026 edition of the SeaSEC Challenge Weeks will be conducted in the Baltic Sea within the Mecklenburg Bight at the Digital Ocean Lab, as well as in the naval base Rostock from 13 – 24 April 2026. In cooperation with the German Navy and hosted by the Rostock Institute for Ocean Technologies (RIOT) the challenges feature sea trials to evaluate and assess solutions offered by the industry to enhance situational awareness and understanding at sea and in a harbour environment. The mission of the industry is to build an accurate and near-real-time maritime situational picture of above and underwater threats to Critical Underwater Infrastructure (CUI). The SeaSEC Challenge Weeks 2026, called DATA2SEA (SCWD2S), includes three challenges and focuses primarily on sensor data fusion to contribute to a layered, consolidated operational picture.

The Challenge Weeks aren’t a trade show. SCWD2S stands for learning under realistic conditions, not waiting for perfect solutions. Critical infrastructure protection requires a cross departmental, cross national, and cross domain situational awareness based on shared data. With the topic of this year’s edition “DATA2SEA”, the SeaSEC Challenge Weeks focus on data fusion, thus testing the foundation for coordinated, joint action. Modern maritime security doesn’t emerge in isolation. SCWD2S demonstrates how the NNCC Navies, authorities, industry, and international partners learn and develop procedures together. In dynamic threat situations, speed and adaptability are crucial for security. SCWD2S is intentionally designed to enable the rapid acquisition and processing of intelligence.

More information on this year’ challenges and participating consortia will follow here shortly.