SheCoders

The rapid escalation of marine plastic waste has introduced significant operational challenges for submarines and underwater research vehicles operating in coastal and open-ocean environments. Floating debris, plastic sheets, and abandoned fishing nets not only disrupt marine ecosystems but also degrade underwater visibility, interfere with optical and acoustic sensors, and increase the risk of mechanical entanglement. Current submarine safety systems are largely reactive, identifying hazards only after entering contaminated or low-visibility regions, which restricts response time and elevates mission risk. There is a critical need for a proactive, surface-deployed monitoring solution capable of detecting floating debris, estimating potential underwater visibility obstruction zones, quantifying associated risk levels, and providing geo-referenced early warnings to support safer and more informed underwater navigation.