CIMNE has taken part in the first session of Maritime Security and Rescue organized by the Philippe Cousteau Foundation in Madrid on July 19th, 2016. During the event, the research center presented the ULISES project, an acquatic drone.

Successful first day of the Maritime Security and Rescue Sessions

The president of Corporación Marítima, Rafael Lobeto Lobo, has remarked the European character of the meeting in a first session that has shown technical initiatives regarding Maritime Security and Rescue.

In the first session participated leading personalities and agents from the Guardia Civil del Mar, the Armada Española and Salvamento Marítimo. The president of the Philippe Cousteau Foundation, Admiral Gabriel Portal, thanked during his speech the implication of all those who took part and made possible that the maritime area keeps on going and also restated the values of this foundation.

Commander Pizarro of the Guardia Civil explained the key factors that have modified the maritime security and rescue in the past years, as well as presented the fleet that the institution possesses for such purposes.

Captain Ignacio Paz García analyzed the scenarios that the Armada Española has to face in the missions where they take part, as well as the elements that they possess to protect the maritime security in Spain.

Juan Luis Pedrosa, the Director of SASEMAR, presented the activities of the Sociedad de Salvamento y Seguridad Marítima, which objective is the presentation of the public services of maritime rescue, prevention and actions against the sea contamination, the presentation of the surveillance and maritime traffic support services, maritime safety and the navigation, towage and assistance to ships on Spain's responsibility zones, which cover more than 1,500,000 km².

Federico Esteve, president of the Clúster Marítimo Español (CME), presented the work of the cluster, the only organization of companies and institutions, from the private and public sector, that work sectorial and geographically in activities closely related to the maritime sector, such as shipbuilding, fishing, nautical tourism or transportation, with the objective of cooperating and profiting from synergizing.

During the act, it was paid tribute to José Anselmo Laranjeira for its long career of defending the sector and its unwavering commitment to the motorways of the sea from the European Union.

Finally, Industrias Ferry, a company from Vigo, presented the cabin of the first Spanish unmanned surface vehicle. This vehicle has been developed in the ULISES project, with the University of Vigo and the International Center for Numerical Methods in Engineering (CIMNE) partnership, and funded with the help of CDTI.

The unmanned surface vehicle, which is completely autonomous, has several purposes, including security in hostile zones or rescue missions through several equipment which it could be provided.