Panoblu IR Brings Continuous 360° Thermal Vision to Superyacht Watchkeeping

Panoblu is presenting its 360-degree imaging technology to the superyacht sector during the Monaco Yacht Show 2026, with the Panoblu IR unit designed to provide continuous thermal coverage around a vessel. The mast-mounted system combines twelve long-wave infrared sensors into a panoramic feed rather than asking an operator to point a single camera at one sector at a time.

The distinction matters during night watch, anchoring and manoeuvring because tenders, swimmers and smaller craft may approach from directions outside the current field of view of a pan-and-tilt camera. Panoblu markets the technology as an additional situational-awareness layer, not a substitute for the crew's obligation to maintain a proper lookout.

Twelve thermal sensors cover the horizon together

The standard IR unit combines eight horizon sensors with four downward-looking sensors, providing a continuous horizontal view and a stated vertical coverage of 110 degrees. Panoblu offers an additional upward-looking configuration for operators who need to consider activity above the yacht, including helicopter operations.

The system produces a stitched 4K panoramic feed at up to 25 frames per second and offers digital zoom when the watch officer needs a closer look at a particular sector. Its fixed optics have no external mechanical pan or tilt movements, although operators still need to understand the limits of thermal contrast and target detection in different conditions.

Recording provides a fuller incident timeline

Panoblu says the unit incorporates a 2TB solid-state drive and can archive a GPS-tagged record of the surrounding scene while underway. This makes the historic view useful for reconstructing a near miss or an approach alongside, where a directed camera may have been pointing elsewhere when an incident occurred.

A Range Awareness Display adds distance information to the panorama, while a browser-based interface can present the view on bridge and connected devices. Yacht operators should still evaluate how the equipment connects to existing bridge systems, who can access the archive and how long recordings are retained.

Retrofit dimensions are relevant to yacht mast design

Panoblu lists a unit approximately 282 by 280 by 207 millimetres and about 5.5 kilograms, depending on configuration. It uses a single Cat 6A PoE++ connection, with typical power demand stated at 60 to 80 watts and an IP68-rated housing.

These details are important because new bridge hardware competes for limited mast space and can create additional cable routes during a refit. The real test for a captain or ETO is whether the continuous feed works alongside radar, AIS, visual watchkeeping and directed thermal equipment without adding unnecessary display or alarm clutter.