The United States’ Department of Homeland Security (DHS) announced plans for the development of a new technology that reports iceberg locations
Named after the ill-fated passenger ship Titanic, the DHS’ Project Titanic is developed by the agency’s Science and Technology Directorate (S&T). The ultimate goal is to help the US Coast Guard improve maritime safety and navigation in the North Atlantic Ocean. Based on S&T’s release, the technologies involved will have Synthetic Aperture Radar imagery by satellite send information to the maritime community on the iceberg locations.
Safer passage in Atlantic Ocean
Seafarers can look forward to safer passage in the region when this new technology becomes operational, which will come some time after 2023. At present, the project is still under the developing phase and the Coast Guard International Ice Patrol (IIP) will be testing the technology throughout 2023.
According to DHS Senior Official Performing the Duties of the Under Secretary for Science and Technology Kathryn Coulter Mitchell, the dangers that seafarers and vessels face in the Atlantic Ocean is no different from what the ill-fated Titanic ship faced some 110 years ago, “Floating icebergs like the one the Titanic struck on April 15, 1912, pose the same navigational hazards today. To this day, the Coast Guard conducts this vital mission to protect ships, oil rigs and other maritime assets from succumbing to a similar fate. When complete, the technology will help the IIP provide even more comprehensive and timely maritime safety information on iceberg locations.”
This cutting-edge new technology is said to delve deeper and give a better perspective to the actual conditions in the Atlantic Ocean, according to IIP’s Coast Guard Commander Marcus Hirschberg. In his words, the technology is immune to dark, overcast conditions and other difficult weather and it is revolutionary in terms of iceberg surveillance.
S&T’s Maritime Safety and Security Program Manager was also positive of the advancement of pinpointing where icebergs are, “Project Titanic is different from other S&T efforts because it uses global satellite access, faster data collection, and enhanced sensor technology. We can detect icebergs on a larger scale than ever before.”
Crewing Online Media Team
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