Rombit, also based in Antwerp, also produces wearables resembling a sports watch that can alarm staff as vehicles approach, alert people if anyone falls into the water or monitors who uses which equipment or enters different areas.

New software recently introduced may allow staff to differentiate themselves by sending warning signals if they arrive within 1.5 metres, for example.

The developers also assume that if anyone gets infected with coronavirus, it might deliver touch tracing. The business or health officials will then determine who the person has been in touch with at work in the weeks preceding it.

Rombit CEO John Baekelmans stresses that the app is not intended to enable businesses to monitor their employees' position for data privacy purposes.

Rombit says that it has already received applications from 400 to 500 companies from 99 countries and plans to increase production to have 25,000 devices ready in weeks, potentially increasing further in June.

Baekelmans said that amongst those expressing interest were logistics firms. There were also inquiries from port companies and building firms.

Maritime Business World