The Self Research Institute (SRI), a personal informatics research U.S. 501c3 non-profit and developer of industry-leading software, announced today a partnership with the SafeWaters Foundation (SWF), a maritime technology platform that enhances the safety and rights of fishers and other crew, to create a platform for data sharing and protection. This strategic collaboration will leverage advanced technologies to enhance maritime safety, digitize critical operations, and improve the efficiency of maritime data sharing across international waters.
The recently launched SafeWaters app, developed through a partnership between the Self Research Institute (SRI) and the SafeWaters Foundation (SWF), represents a vital step forward in protecting the well-being of maritime workers. Built on the Self Framework, the same secure platform that powers the Self Research Institute’s Self Health Wallet, SafeWaters leverages cutting-edge technology to address critical social determinants of health, such as safety, equity, and dignity in labor practices.
The Self Framework ensures that sensitive personal data is securely managed, empowering maritime workers to report their location and well-being, document rights violations, and access trusted resources without compromising their privacy. These features mirror the principles of the Self Health Wallet, which focuses on securely managing health data to improve individual outcomes. By enhancing transparency and accountability in the fishing industry, SafeWaters indirectly supports physical and mental health by reducing risks associated with unsafe working conditions, exploitation, and isolation.
Health professionals can draw valuable insights from SafeWaters, as it illustrates how secure data platforms can be adapted to protect vulnerable populations and promote well-being across industries. For more details on how SafeWaters is transforming the maritime sector, read the full press release here.
Labor conditions at sea remain a major issue in the global fishing industry, and this partnership between SRI and SafeWaters applies data sharing and management, by way of a mobile application, that can combat illegal labor practices. The Self Research Institute’s cutting-edge Self Framework technology stack enables secure data management, ensuring that maritime workers whereabouts and safety can be reported safely and securely, while their families and shore-based authorities can access real-time, reliable information.
This partnership combines SRI’s technological expertise with SWF’s deep knowledge of networks within the maritime and fishing sectors to deliver a first-of-its-kind app for Android that can be downloaded from the Google Play Store globally, and eventually iOS. The new solution uses advanced blockchain and decentralized technologies to increase privacy, security, and transparency, helping workers and their families stay informed and safe.
“Together with SWF, we are addressing pressing challenges in maritime safety and security by providing a tailor-made, secure app that offers both workers and their families a peace of mind that until now was unattainable. It’s about creating a more secure future for everyone connected to this vital industry,” said Sterling Snead, CEO of Self Research Institute. “There are few more noble uses for innovation than safeguarding and improving the lives of others, and working with SWF has illustrated how much can be done when technology is applied responsibly.”
The SafeWaters app, Built on SRI’s Self Framework, a comprehensive human data platform designed to securely handle and share sensitive personal data, which is the same name as the organization, also serves as a direct line for regulatory authorities and law enforcement agencies, providing them with up-to-date, accurate data. This will aid significantly in law enforcement’s ability to address and prevent these crimes.
“The global marine community understands the scale of oceans, and how much there is to protect below the surface as well as above on vessels that work this enormous and at times dangerous environment. As vast as the oceans are, tracking data points has enabled us to understand where the threats are to the environment and those that work on and in it,” said Dr Mattias Wengelin, spokesperson for SWF. “By partnering with The Self Research Institute, we are bringing next-generation technologies to the maritime sector that will transform how the lives of individual crew members are protected.”
This partnership between Self Research Institute and SafeWaters Foundation offers a unique competitive advantage by leveraging SRI’s innovative app development expertise alongside SWF’s experience within the maritime industry. As the Self Framework technology offers an emphasis on the protection of sensitive health data, SRI is specifically equipped to handle information such as the status and location of a loved one working in the maritime industry. The collaboration addresses a market need that has long been overlooked, providing safety, security, and clarity to maritime workers and their families, while offering visibility on vessels’ labor practices to the entire supply chain. SafeWaters will provide data and insights to a currently opaque aspect of fishing, allowing responsible operators to differentiate themselves reliably.
About The Self Research Institute:
The Self Research Institute is a US 501c3 non-profit pioneer in human data, privacy, and security. By leveraging scientific research, blockchain, and decentralized systems, SRI develops innovative software solutions that ensure privacy and security across multiple industries. The Institute is dedicated to empowering individuals and businesses with future-proof digital tools that provide enhanced security and data management. For more information, please visit https://www.selfresearch.org/
About SafeWaters Foundation: SafeWaters Foundation is a groundbreaking platform dedicated to enhance the safety, transparency, and well-being of crew and officers while onboard. By enabling users to link profiles, share information about working and living conditions, and record violations of their safety and rights, SafeWaters fosters greater accountability in maritime industries. The platform leverages decentralized technology, allowing users to store personal, professional and individual contract information securely, share their location and well-being with trusted contacts, and back up each other’s data, even in remote areas with limited connectivity.
Discover more about Self Research Institute:
The Self Research Institute (SRI) is a nonprofit organization dedicated to advancing privacy, security, and healthcare innovation through cutting-edge technology. Focused on global challenges, SRI develops solutions such as the SafeWaters and SafeLabour apps to enhance maritime safety, improve labor rights, and promote sustainability. With a strong commitment to leveraging technology for social equity and global impact, SRI addresses critical issues in healthcare and labor practices worldwide.
