A drone ship is being trialled in the English Channel as a way of finding migrants trying to reach Britain from France.
The unmanned surveillance vessel, called Madfox, is controlled from another vessel, equipped with radar and cameras, and is capable of speeds of more than 40 knots.
Sensors on board are able to recognise specific vessel types, such as yachts or fishing boats, and also, it is hoped, migrants' boats as they set sail from France.
The boat, being tested by the Royal Navy, was trialled on Thursday in the English Channel - the world's busiest shipping lane - by the Border Force agency.
So far this year, about 8,000 people have made the perilous journey across the strait in more than 600 boats. In 2018, fewer than 500 people were detected entering Britain in small boats.
The numbers arriving by sea have risen partly because of the drop in lorry traffic travelling into the UK as a result of the coronavirus pandemic.
Dan O'Mahoney, the UK's newly-appointed Clandestine Channel Threat Commander, confirmed the trials, based in Dover, were taking place.
"We are working day and night to secure our borders and to stop small boats crossing the channel, said Mr O'Mahoney, a former Royal Marine. "This new technology could help in our mission to make these crossings unviable by gathering evidence for prosecutions, preventing uncontrolled landings and supporting operations to save lives at sea."
Britain and France signed an agreement to tighten their borders against illegal migration across the English Channel on Saturday, as they pledged to increase sea and land patrols and use technology to close off the precarious route used by migrants to the UK.
UK interior minister Priti Patel said that under the agreement, the number of officers patrolling French beaches would be doubled, and drones and radar would be put to work.
Madfox was developed by the government's defence, science and technology laboratories and a specialist drone firm, L3Harris.
It took part in exercises earlier this year with the Navy's HMS Albion and the Royal Marines 47 Commando in Norway.
Profile of Hala Insurance
Date Started: September 2018
Founders: Walid and Karim Dib
Based: Abu Dhabi
Employees: Nine
Amount raised: $1.2 million
Funders: Oman Technology Fund, AB Accelerator, 500 Startups, private backers
The specs: 2018 BMW R nineT Scrambler
Price, base / as tested Dh57,000
Engine 1,170cc air/oil-cooled flat twin four-stroke engine
Transmission Six-speed gearbox
Power 110hp) @ 7,750rpm
Torque 116Nm @ 6,000rpm
Fuel economy, combined 5.3L / 100km
THE BIO
BIO:
Born in RAK on December 9, 1983
Lives in Abu Dhabi with her family
She graduated from Emirates University in 2007 with a BA in architectural engineering
Her motto in life is her grandmother’s saying “That who created you will not have you get lost”
Her ambition is to spread UAE’s culture of love and acceptance through serving coffee, the country’s traditional coffee in particular.
Water waste
In the UAE’s arid climate, small shrubs, bushes and flower beds usually require about six litres of water per square metre, daily. That increases to 12 litres per square metre a day for small trees, and 300 litres for palm trees.
Horticulturists suggest the best time for watering is before 8am or after 6pm, when water won't be dried up by the sun.
A global report published by the Water Resources Institute in August, ranked the UAE 10th out of 164 nations where water supplies are most stretched.
The Emirates is the world’s third largest per capita water consumer after the US and Canada.
The specs
Engine: 2.9-litre, V6 twin-turbo
Transmission: seven-speed PDK dual clutch automatic
Power: 375bhp
Torque: 520Nm
Price: Dh332,800
On sale: now
SOUTH%20KOREA%20SQUAD
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Killing of Qassem Suleimani
The five pillars of Islam
1. Fasting
2. Prayer
3. Hajj
4. Shahada
5. Zakat
UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
The specs
Engine: 3.0-litre twin-turbo flat-six
Power: 480hp at 6,500rpm
Torque: 570Nm from 2,300-5,000rpm
Transmission: 8-speed dual-clutch auto
Fuel consumption: 10.4L/100km
Price: from Dh547,600
On sale: now
Killing of Qassem Suleimani
Killing of Qassem Suleimani
