In the United States, maritime drones are being tested to protect ports
The ports and harbors of the world play a vital role in world trade. However, any man-made disaster, fire or explosion, or a major oil spill can shut down one of these ports for a long time. Suffice it to recall the consequences of the explosions in the port of Beirut in Lebanon in August 2020.
Naturally, the port authorities should deal with issues of port security. Now port security systems include video monitoring, patrolling the water space by the Coast Guard.
But these measures are already several decades old, and the current level of technology development makes it possible to change the established habitual port security schemes.
A few years ago, the Pentagon discussed the possibility of using unmanned surface vehicles to ensure the security of ports and harbors. Among them is USV MANTAS, a very interesting device that can be equipped with surface sensors, underwater sensors, including sonars and echo sounders, sensors for biological and radiation contamination, water quality detection, and so on. The device is manufactured by Maritime Tactical Systems Inc. (MARTAC), which is actively working in the field of surface drones.
The Port of Los Angeles (POLA) is already testing the use of an unmanned vehicle in order to study its capabilities in terms of carrying out tasks to patrol the water area. It has been found that the security of the port will be enhanced by longer duration of drone patrols, as well as due to more extensive monitoring capabilities.
Naval News writes that a few years ago, the massive use of unmanned surface vehicles for coastal protection and port security would have been impossible. Now this task is quite feasible at the technical and organizational level. The publication emphasizes that unmanned vehicles will be able to reduce the cost of ensuring port security, although no one is going to abandon manned security boats.
Information