Unmanned surface vessels (USV) could play a role in countering piracy, according to a Singapore company making such vessels.
Speaking at the International Maritime Defence Exhibition and Conference (IMDEX Asia) show here, Mr James Soon, president of maritime surveillance company Zycraft, said the company’s new USV, the Vigilant, could be an effective deterrent to pirate attacks, as it can be used by shipping companies to escort merchant vessels.
“Because I don’t need men to operate it, the USV can stay out at sea longer than a manned vessel,” said Mr Soon. “No one is at risk and they do not have to cope with sea conditions.”
ZyCraft managing director Jim Von Ehr added: “We’ll be controlling (the vessel) by pilots sitting in a nice air-conditioned office but they will be viewing things as if they were on the boat at sea.”
The company declined to comment on whether it intended to sell this model to regional navies.
The Vigilant can travel 2,800 nautical miles (5,185 km) without refuelling and can feed real-time footage to its controllers based in Singapore through satellites.
This will allow the vessel to operate anywhere in the world, said Mr Soon.
The Vigilant will be modified and tested in Singapore waters from August.
Another Singapore company, ST Engineering, said unmanned platforms are an important aspect of business and that there will be more research and development in this area.
ST Engineering’s deputy CEO and president for the defence business Seah Moon Ming said: “We don’t want to risk people’s lives. The other aspect is (that) engineering is always looking for economical solutions. Because if you put into the unmanned platform you can put more payload in a more economical manner.”
