A deadly fire breaks out at sea. Flames and smoke billow from an oil tanker but it is too dangerous for an emergency vessel with crew to get close.
All looks lost, until the sea drones roll in.
Unmanned surface vessels, or USVs, are the latest in marine technology - and they are ready to race to the rescue in the UAE.
They are an autonomous surface boat that can fight aggressive fires without putting the safety of a crew at risk, monitor pollution, guard marinas and provide security.
Two of the latest models made by UAE-based Al Marakeb are on display at the Abu Dhabi Boat Show, which is running at Adnec marina until Saturday.
One is a twin-engine firefighting model, costs about US$500,000 (Dh1.83m) and can be operated remotely with something as simple as a 3G network with a joystick or control pad.
The firefighting model has a special hose that sucks in seawater, mixes it with a special foaming agent and sprays it into the fire. The vessel can get as close as necessary - something that wouldn't possible if there was the safety of crew members to consider.
The boat is controlled by software that connects to anything that needs to be manipulated such as global positioning systems and radar. Artificial intelligence is not used and the boat does not think for itself.
“The boat will not do anything unless it has been imputed. And someone can always take over,” said Al Marakeb’s David Dubois, who is from the UK.
The vessels range in price from US$60,000 (Dh220,000) to $600,000 (Dh2.2m). Al Marakeb would not reveal how many they sell a year. But manufacturing capacity is for 35 of the boats annually and the firm is at “maximum capacity”.
The company can also convert regular vessels into autonomous craft using its software to connect the rudder, navigation and GPS with sensors to determine the vessel’s heading and position.
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Read more:
Yachts, powerboats and marine drones: Abu Dhabi boat show drops anchor
Timeframe: Dubai Creek a changing port of call
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“The system is easy to install,” said Mr Dubois.
“It doesn’t matter if you have outboard or inboard engines, we can talk to the system and make it work.”
Regarding potential job losses resulting from drones in the maritime industry, Mr Dubois predicts they could have an effect.
The first consoles had steering wheels to replicate boats for older captains but these have been dispensed with for controllers and joysticks.
“The old captains have no chance. They are not dextrous enough,” he said.
Autonomous vessels are used to replace jobs that are dirty, dangerous or repetitive. Mr Dubois points to some marinas, which are required to have several manned boats for security. These could be replaced with sea drones, while countries that need to patrol thousands of kilometres of coastlines could use them instead of having to train costly crew, deploy and house them.
There is no official global standard regulating the use of USVs yet with the International Maritime Organisation yet to step in. But Mr Dubois believes this is a needed move.
“Look at what happened with coal mining. The International Maritime Organisation is slow to adapt because they are looking at all these angles. It is going to be a disruptor and you will see people moving away. Economically it makes sense.”
Separately, Dubai Municipality unveiled a sea rescue drone earlier this month. The unmanned aerial vehicle called the "flying rescuer" can help save people that get into difficulty while swimming by dropping life buoys. The drone even has its own mini helipad.
THREE POSSIBLE REPLACEMENTS
Khalfan Mubarak
The Al Jazira playmaker has for some time been tipped for stardom within UAE football, with Quique Sanchez Flores, his former manager at Al Ahli, once labelling him a “genius”. He was only 17. Now 23, Mubarak has developed into a crafty supplier of chances, evidenced by his seven assists in six league matches this season. Still to display his class at international level, though.
Rayan Yaslam
The Al Ain attacking midfielder has become a regular starter for his club in the past 15 months. Yaslam, 23, is a tidy and intelligent player, technically proficient with an eye for opening up defences. Developed while alongside Abdulrahman in the Al Ain first-team and has progressed well since manager Zoran Mamic’s arrival. However, made his UAE debut only last December.
Ismail Matar
The Al Wahda forward is revered by teammates and a key contributor to the squad. At 35, his best days are behind him, but Matar is incredibly experienced and an example to his colleagues. His ability to cope with tournament football is a concern, though, despite Matar beginning the season well. Not a like-for-like replacement, although the system could be adjusted to suit.
IPL 2018 FINAL
Sunrisers Hyderabad 178-6 (20 ovs)
Chennai Super Kings 181-2 (18.3 ovs)
Chennai win by eight wickets
The five new places of worship
Church of South Indian Parish
St Andrew's Church Mussaffah branch
St Andrew's Church Al Ain branch
St John's Baptist Church, Ruwais
Church of the Virgin Mary and St Paul the Apostle, Ruwais
KILLING OF QASSEM SULEIMANI
GAC GS8 Specs
Engine: 2.0-litre 4cyl turbo
Power: 248hp at 5,200rpm
Torque: 400Nm at 1,750-4,000rpm
Transmission: 8-speed auto
Fuel consumption: 9.1L/100km
On sale: Now
Price: From Dh149,900
Killing of Qassem Suleimani
'Nightmare Alley'
Director:Guillermo del Toro
Stars:Bradley Cooper, Cate Blanchett, Rooney Mara
Rating: 3/5
COMPANY%20PROFILE
%3Cp%3E%3Cstrong%3ECompany%20name%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%20Alaan%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EStarted%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%202021%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EBased%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%20Dubai%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EFounders%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%20Parthi%20Duraisamy%20and%20Karun%20Kurien%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3ESector%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%20FinTech%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EInvestment%20stage%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%20%247%20million%20raised%20in%20total%20%E2%80%94%20%242.5%20million%20in%20a%20seed%20round%20and%20%244.5%20million%20in%20a%20pre-series%20A%20round%3Cbr%3E%3Cbr%3E%3C%2Fp%3E%0A
The specs
Engine: 2.0-litre 4-cyl turbo
Power: 247hp at 6,500rpm
Torque: 370Nm from 1,500-3,500rpm
Transmission: 10-speed auto
Fuel consumption: 7.8L/100km
Price: from Dh94,900
On sale: now
Washmen Profile
Date Started: May 2015
Founders: Rami Shaar and Jad Halaoui
Based: Dubai, UAE
Sector: Laundry
Employees: 170
Funding: about $8m
Funders: Addventure, B&Y Partners, Clara Ventures, Cedar Mundi Partners, Henkel Ventures
The%20Secret%20Kingdom%20
%3Cp%3E%3Cstrong%3EDirector%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%20Matt%20Drummond%3C%2Fp%3E%0A%3Cp%3E%3Cstrong%3EStars%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3EAlyla%20Browne%2C%20Alice%20Parkinson%2C%20Sam%20Everingham%3C%2Fp%3E%0A%3Cp%3E%3Cstrong%3ERating%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%203%2F5%26nbsp%3B%3C%2Fp%3E%0A
Killing of Qassem Suleimani
The specs
AT4 Ultimate, as tested
Engine: 6.2-litre V8
Power: 420hp
Torque: 623Nm
Transmission: 10-speed automatic
Price: From Dh330,800 (Elevation: Dh236,400; AT4: Dh286,800; Denali: Dh345,800)
On sale: Now
PREMIER LEAGUE FIXTURES
Saturday (UAE kick-off times)
Watford v Leicester City (3.30pm)
Brighton v Arsenal (6pm)
West Ham v Wolves (8.30pm)
Bournemouth v Crystal Palace (10.45pm)
Sunday
Newcastle United v Sheffield United (5pm)
Aston Villa v Chelsea (7.15pm)
Everton v Liverpool (10pm)
Monday
Manchester City v Burnley (11pm)
Director: Laxman Utekar
Cast: Vicky Kaushal, Akshaye Khanna, Diana Penty, Vineet Kumar Singh, Rashmika Mandanna
Rating: 1/5
ALL THE RESULTS
Bantamweight
Siyovush Gulmomdov (TJK) bt Rey Nacionales (PHI) by decision.
Lightweight
Alexandru Chitoran (ROU) bt Hussein Fakhir Abed (SYR) by submission.
Catch 74kg
Omar Hussein (JOR) bt Tohir Zhuraev (TJK) by decision.
Strawweight (Female)
Seo Ye-dam (KOR) bt Weronika Zygmunt (POL) by decision.
Featherweight
Kaan Ofli (TUR) bt Walid Laidi (ALG) by TKO.
Lightweight
Abdulla Al Bousheiri (KUW) bt Leandro Martins (BRA) by TKO.
Welterweight
Ahmad Labban (LEB) bt Sofiane Benchohra (ALG) by TKO.
Bantamweight
Jaures Dea (CAM) v Nawras Abzakh (JOR) no contest.
Lightweight
Mohammed Yahya (UAE) bt Glen Ranillo (PHI) by TKO round 1.
Lightweight
Alan Omer (GER) bt Aidan Aguilera (AUS) by TKO round 1.
Welterweight
Mounir Lazzez (TUN) bt Sasha Palatkinov (HKG) by TKO round 1.
Featherweight title bout
Romando Dy (PHI) v Lee Do-gyeom (KOR) by KO round 1.
Bib%20Gourmand%20restaurants
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ITU Abu Dhabi World Triathlon
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