Enhancing Australia’s Port and Harbour Security

Unmanned Surface Vehicles Beyond Human Performance

Australia’s ports are the critical nodes for exports and imports moved across the oceans. With a coastline of   over 59,000 kilometres, an exclusive economic zone  of  over eight  million  square  kilometres,  and  other  maritime interests   to   support   throughout   the   region,   there is a limit to the  resources  to  ensure the safety of Australia’s ports and harbours. It may be time to leverage emerging commercial-off-the-shelf technology  such  as  Unmanned  Surface  Vehicles (USV) to take on the lion’s share of this vital security role.

The Port of Los Angeles has explored the possibility of using USV to enhance the security of the port. Port officials invited  Maritime  Tactical Systems  Inc. (MARTAC)  to  visit  and  demonstrate the capabilities of their MANTAS USV. MANTAS is a high-performance, commercial off-the-shelf USV built on a catamaran-style hull,  and  comes  in  a  number of  variants  ranging  in  size  from  1.8 to 15 metres. A demonstration was conducted using  a  1.8m (12-foot) MANTAS. The MANTAS (otherwise known  as  the T12) can be equipped with a  wide  variety  of  above-surface  sensors  (EO/IR/thermal  video)  and  below-surface  sensors  (sonars and  echo-sounders),  as  well  as  other  devices  such as chem/bio/nuclear sensors, water quality monitors, and above/below surface environmental sensors.

After observing the MANTAS remote demonstration, it was determined that the capabilities of this USV met the requirements for the wide variety of missions for the Port of Los Angeles. That said, port officials asked MARTAC to scale-up the MANTAS to a T24 and T38 versions. It was felt that the T12 MANTAS was so stealthy that ships in transit could not see it. Additionally, the larger T24 and T38 could operate for longer periods and carry additional sensors. The T38 MANTAS has  now  been  demonstrated  in  U.S.  Navy exercises, and  is  scheduled  to  be  demonstrated  in the Port of Tampa, Florida later this year.

Read More:

Unmanned Surface Vehicles for Enhanced Port and Harbour Security (501 KB)

Accelerating Innovation in Unmanned Surface Vehicles

MANTAS High Speed Performance – The MANTAS ballasting system and water-tight compartmentalisation virtually eliminates the risk of broaching.

MANTAS Stealth Performance – “Gator” mode enables near-covert ISR for rivers and estuaries

MANTAS T12 at 37 knots – performing beyond human capability.