MANILA, Philippines- Nagbigay ang United Nations office ng donasyong unmanned surface vessel (USV) sa Philippine Coast Guard (PCG).
Sa isang post sa X (dating Twitter) nitong Huwebes, sinabi ng UN Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC)-Global Maritime Crime Programme (GMCP) na sumailalim ang USV sa ilang test sa Subic, Zambales.
“The first ever USV for a Coast Guard Agency in Southeast Asia. GMCP completed the Harbour Acceptance Test and Sea Acceptance Trial at Subic, Zambales of the USV for PCG,” pahayag ng UN office.
Sinabi ng PCG na ang turnover ng USV ay orihinal na nakatakda ng Biyernes subalit ipinapaliban ito dahil sa urgent concern na kailangang tugunan ng liderato ng PCG.
Base sa US National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, idine-deploy ang USVs ”to map the seafloor, water column, and marine habitats; conduct marine mammal and fishery stock assessments; monitor water and air quality; improve habitat suitability, hurricane forecast, and storm surge models; locate maritime heritage resources; and detect marine debris, oil spills, harmful substances, and illegal activities.” RNT/SA
