EMEA News
EMSA "Embraces" Drones for Maritime Surveillance and Emissions Monitoring
The European Maritime Safety Agency (EMSA) says it is "embracing what technology has to offer for maritime surveillance" and has been working with the European Space Agency (ESA) on two pilot projects intended to efficiently utilise Remotely Piloted Airborne Systems (RPAS), more commonly known as "drones," for maritime surveillance and sulfur oxide (SOx) emissions monitoring.
The two projects are reported to have been presented to attendees at a workshop organised by the EMSA and ESA on October 28 and 29, titled "Remotely Piloted Airborne Systems for Maritime Surveillance."
"The objective of the event was twofold: to provide participants with an update on the current status of RPAS technology for maritime surveillance; and to present interesting RPAS projects currently being undertaken in the maritime domain," stated the EMSA.
The two pilot projects are said to include RAPSODY, intended to show the technical capacity of RPAS in operational maritime surveillance, as well as a second project, known as STEAM, which is said to be aimed at conducting SOx emissions measurements using RPAS.
EMSA and ESA say that it is their intention to work together to develop pilot RPAS services for the maritime domain.
Further, EMSA report that a user benefit study is currently being conducted, with pilot service set to be contracted in the latter half of next year.
EMSA and ESA are also said to be intending to organise an "industry consultation" meeting, set for November 25 in Noordwijk, Netherlands.
"The objective of the meeting is to explore the market and its availability, capability and readiness to provide pilot RPAS based services," explained EMSA.
In April, the Maritime and Port Authority of Singapore (MPA) unveiled a prototype of a waterproof drone it says will be used to help combat bunker spills.
