For the third consecutive year, the Belgian Coast Guard is taking part in the Multipurpose Maritime Operation (MMO) of the European Maritime Safety Agency (EMSA). The European Fisheries Control Agency (EFCA) and Frontex are also supporting the operation. Alongside Belgium and France, the Netherlands is joining the cooperation for the first time this year.
As part of this international maritime operation, EMSA is making a drone available to the participating countries. New this year is that the RPAS drone (Remotely Piloted Aircraft System) will operate from Belgium until mid-July, significantly increasing its operational deployability. The drone takes off from the military base in Lombardsijde, where a temporary operational base has been specially set up for the mission. During the previous two MMO editions, the drone operated exclusively from the French CROSS Gris-Nez centre.
“Thanks to this technology, authorities can respond more quickly and in a more targeted way in one of Europe’s busiest and most sensitive maritime areas,” says Coast Guard Chair and Administrator-General of the Agency for Maritime and Coastal Services, Nathalie Balcaen.
Strict regulations apply in the North Sea. Ships must comply with international navigation rules that ensure safe and orderly maritime traffic. Certain zones, such as offshore wind farms, are restricted areas. The drone can efficiently detect illegal fishing, human smuggling and transmigration by sea, vessels failing to use the mandatory AIS identification system, marine pollution caused by shipping incidents, and other violations of maritime or environmental legislation, enabling more targeted enforcement. In addition, the drone can support search-and-rescue operations at sea and even scientific research.
According to Admiral Tanguy Botman, commander of the Belgian Navy, the RPAS drone offers several key advantages: “The drone can be deployed rapidly, covers a much larger area than a patrol vessel, and provides extremely sharp imagery.” These images are shared in real time with the operator and coast guard centres, allowing for faster and more effective action. In the longer term, the ambition is to deploy this form of maritime surveillance permanently.
In addition to the aerial drone, the European agencies are also providing an underwater drone. This can be used, among other things, to detect unused telecommunications cables and assist in their removal. The underwater drone also enables the accurate mapping of lost anchors and wrecks.
