A Rotherham-based company specialising in ‘unique’ drone technology has landed a multi-million euro contract to monitor pollution in Europe’s waters.
The Martek Drones division, which is part of the Martek Marine maritime technology group, has won a €10m framework contract with the European Maritime Safety Agency (EMSA).
The company will send its 2-metre long drones up to 50km offshore to measure the sulphur and CO2 levels emitted from the exhausts of commercial ships.
The call to deploy these drones could be made from any EU nation at any time. EMSA will then relay the request to Martek, which will send two drones and a crew to monitor the seas for a minimum of 60 days in each location.
The land-based team will manoeuvre the drone close to ship exhaust stacks and use a gas analyser to measure the SO2, NO2 and CO2 ratios in the surrounding atmosphere.
Read more at: https://bdaily.co.uk/technology/22-11-2016/rotherham-drone-manufacturer-wins-10m-to-protect-europes-waters/