Smart Marine Security Built on B.C. Innovation

Key Points: In what ways can AI innovations emerging from British Columbia tackle practical marine challenges and scale to international markets?

Barnacle Systems is a British Columbia–based marine technology company demonstrating how AI innovation can address real‑world challenges while scaling internationally. Key highlights include:

• AI‑enabled Marine Monitoring: Barnacle applies AI and advanced sensing technologies to transform vessels into smart, connected systems that enhance safety, efficiency and operational reliability.
• Scalable Product Platform: The company’s BRNKL platform integrates sensors, video and engine data to provide real‑time monitoring for recreational, government and defence vessels.
• Export‑driven Growth from B.C.: Headquartered and engineered in British Columbia, Barnacle exports its technology globally while benefiting from Trade and Invest BC support for targeted market access and growth.

British Columbia (B.C.) is a powerhouse of innovation, where bold ideas meet world-class talent. Home to more than 500 artificial intelligence (AI)–driven companies, the province is transforming industries ranging from software and robotics to healthcare, marine, mining and beyond. This diverse ecosystem continues to redefine what’s possible across sectors including cybersecurity, fintech, agritech and life sciences. One company putting this innovation to work on the water is Barnacle Systems. Barnacle Systems shows how B.C. innovation is solving real‑world challenges while creating global opportunities.

Founded in Victoria by engineer Brandon Wright, Barnacle Systems combines advanced monitoring and sensing expertise with practical maritime insight to modernize the marine industry. By applying AI to traditional marine operations, the company turns vessels into smart, connected systems that enhance safety, efficiency and operational confidence.

From Real-World Failure to Scalable Solution

The company’s origin traces back to a real-world failure point. In 2017, Wright’s sailboat broke anchor in Mill Bay, just north of Victoria, and drifted ashore without warning. When he searched for a modern, smart-home–style monitoring solution for boats, he found none. The experience revealed a critical gap: even experienced vessel owners lacked reliable tools to monitor and protect their assets remotely. That insight became the foundation for Barnacle Systems.

What began as a solution for recreational boaters quickly evolved into a scalable platform delivering real-time alerts, data visibility and peace of mind from anywhere in the world. Today, Barnacle serves recreational users alongside government, enforcement and defense organizations, all with a shared need for reliable, intelligent marine monitoring.

BRNKL: A Smart Home for the Vessel

At the core of the company’s offering is BRNKL (pronounced “barnacle”), an integrated security and remote monitoring system designed specifically for boats. Often described as a “smart home for your vessel,” BRNKL combines video surveillance, onboard sensors, engine data and connectivity into a single onboard hub, giving owners and operators real-time visibility and control.

Early adoption in the recreational boating market accelerated through partnerships and campaigns with popular boating YouTubers, helping BRNKL gain traction globally. Today, the platform protects recreational vessels in more than 40 countries, providing early warnings for issues such as flooding, power failures and unauthorized entry.

Expanding into Government and Defence Markets

Since 2021, Barnacle has increasingly focused on government and military customers, where vessels operate in higher-risk environments and require more advanced security and data resilience. To meet these needs, the company developed BRNKL Black, a secure, offline-first monitoring and data logging platform often described as the “black box for boats.”

BRNKL Black has been adopted by organizations including the Royal Canadian Mounted Police and Canada’s Department of National Defence, and selected as a core hardware platform in a NATO human factors study supporting eight NATO special operations forces operating high-speed vessels.

Using AI to Enable Predictive Maintenance

Building on this foundation, Barnacle is advancing AI-powered capabilities within the BRNKL platform to support predictive maintenance, beginning with outboard engines on high-speed government and military vessels. By analyzing operational data trends over time, BRNKL can identify potential performance issues before they become costly or mission-critical.

Rather than overwhelming operators with raw data, Barnacle’s approach focuses on translating complex information into practical insights—helping teams detect issues early, improve vessel readiness and support long-term fleet management.

“At Barnacle Systems, we see AI as the solution to the marine industry’s growing data overload,” said Brandon Wright, P.Eng., CEO of Barnacle Systems Inc. “AI helps operators prioritize what matters, respond faster and prevent failures before they happen. As we expand these capabilities, we’re also growing our team in British Columbia, because building world-class AI products still depends on talented people, strong engineering and deep industry expertise.”

Designing and Building in British Columbia

From its global headquarters in Victoria, British Columbia, Barnacle Systems exports its technology to customers around the world. Circuit boards are manufactured in Vancouver, with final assembly completed in Victoria, embedding global export activity within B.C.’s technology and advanced manufacturing ecosystem.

Supported by a fully in-house engineering team spanning electrical, computer, software and mechanical disciplines, Barnacle designs, builds and supports its marine-grade solutions entirely in British Columbia—demonstrating how locally developed innovation can scale globally.

Accelerating Growth with Trade and Invest BC

To help scale this B.C.–based innovation into international markets, Barnacle has worked closely with Trade and Invest BC (TIBC). TIBC has played an important role in facilitating introductions and coordinating meetings with Tier‑1 defence organizations, providing access to key stakeholders that are typically difficult for scaling companies to reach. These targeted connections helped ensure Barnacle engaged with the right decision‑makers inside major defence groups, accelerating meaningful conversations and export‑related opportunities.

Participation in TIBC-supported trade missions and industry events has also played a key role. Through curated meetings, roundtables and sector-specific trade shows in priority markets, Barnacle has been able to engage directly with relevant partners and customers.

From Local Innovation to Global Impact

Barnacle Systems is one of many success stories emerging from British Columbia’s innovation ecosystem. Backed by technical talent, applied research and export-ready infrastructure, B.C. continues to help companies scale from local beginnings to global impact.

With the support of Trade and Invest BC, businesses like Barnacle are navigating international markets with greater confidence and clarity—positioning British Columbia’s innovators to compete on the world stage and shape the future of their industries.

Ready to take your innovation global? Discover how Trade and Invest BC can help your company enter new markets, connect with the right partners and accelerate international growth.