Martek to Participate on EMSA Drone Framework Contract for Ship Emissions Monitoring

by Ship & Bunker News Team
Monday November 21, 2016

Martek Marine (Martek) today announced it has been awarded a framework contract by the European Maritime Safety Agency (EMSA) pertaining to ship engine emission monitoring using Remotely Piloted Aircraft Systems (RPAS) - also referred to as drones.

As Ship & Bunker reported last year, EMSA said it was "embracing what technology has to offer for maritime surveillance," having embarked on a number of projects to efficiently utilise drones for maritime surveillance and SOx emissions monitoring.

The framework on which Martek will be participating is said to specifically deal with the use of drones, equipped with electro optical, infra-red imaging, gas emission, and automatic identification system (AIS) detection sensors, to sample gases from vessels' emissions plumes.

"This EMSA contract allows us to combine our original 'world first' of ship SO2/CO2/NOx monitoring, with our unique drone platform to deliver another world first. We're determined to 'change the world using drones' and this is the first of many applications which we intend to pioneer," said Paul Luen, Martek Group's CEO.

"We have made a real commitment to drone technology and envisage them bringing huge benefits to maritime operations and this tender allowed us to marry this capability with our world leading emissions monitoring pedigree."

In April, EMSA said a tender had been signed to provide an unmanned system to assist in a number of information gathering operations, including maritime emissions monitoring.