The New Zealand government is seeking industry input on the use of maritime helicopters and drones in the country’s waters. The Ministry of Business, Innovation and Employment (MBIE) has released a request for information (RFI) seeking feedback from industry stakeholders on the potential use of these technologies to enhance maritime safety and security.
The RFI is part of the government’s wider Maritime Domain Awareness (MDA) programme, which aims to improve New Zealand’s ability to detect, identify, and respond to maritime threats. The programme is focused on enhancing collaboration between government agencies, industry partners, and international partners to improve maritime safety and security.
Maritime helicopters and drones have the potential to play a significant role in the MDA programme. Helicopters can provide rapid response capabilities for search and rescue operations, while drones can be used for surveillance and monitoring of New Zealand’s vast coastline.
The RFI seeks input from industry stakeholders on a range of topics, including the types of helicopters and drones that would be most suitable for New Zealand’s maritime environment, the capabilities and features that would be required, and the potential costs and benefits of using these technologies.
The government is particularly interested in hearing from companies that have experience in providing maritime helicopter and drone services, as well as those that have expertise in developing and manufacturing these technologies.
The RFI is open until 5pm on 30 April 2021, and responses will be used to inform the development of a business case for the use of maritime helicopters and drones in New Zealand. The business case will be presented to the government later this year, with a decision on whether to proceed with the implementation of these technologies expected in 2022.
The use of maritime helicopters and drones has already been successfully implemented in other countries, including Australia and the United States. In Australia, the New South Wales Police Force has been using drones to monitor shark activity along the state’s coastline, while in the United States, the Coast Guard has been using helicopters to conduct search and rescue operations in the Gulf of Mexico.
The potential benefits of using these technologies in New Zealand are significant. They could help to improve response times for search and rescue operations, enhance surveillance and monitoring capabilities, and provide a more cost-effective solution for maritime safety and security.
Overall, the government’s RFI is an important step towards enhancing New Zealand’s maritime safety and security capabilities. By seeking input from industry stakeholders, the government can ensure that any future implementation of maritime helicopters and drones is tailored to the country’s unique environment and requirements.
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