UI Plans to Build Unmanned Vessels to Help Rescue Team

Depok, West Java (Antara) - The state University of Indonesia (UI) is studying cooperation with the National Search and Rescue Agency (Basarnas) to build a prototype of unmanned vessels to be used by search and rescue (SAR) teams. The UI engineering faculty will build the vessel which is christened Makara-03, Tika Anggraeni, the faculty spokesman, said here on Friday. "Makara-03, an advanced series of Makara-01 and Makara-02 is being designed specially a number of UI students to be able to maneuver fast," she said. It would be used by Basarnas in difficult areas or condition such as under extreme weather that could endanger the safety of the SAR teams, she said. The unmanned vessel would conduct the searching to locate the victims before the SAR team moves in, Tika said. "The vessel will be controlled through satellite communication and it is a self-righting boat that could recover itself to original position in case of capsizing," she said. (*)