الشركات الملاحية تتبنى بسرعة تكنولوجيا الحماية من الطائرات بدون طيار following a surge in attacks on commercial vessels in the Black Sea and Middle East. Marss, Drone Defence and D-fend report a sharp increase in inquiries, especially from oil and gas operators and those managing offshore energy infrastructure. With over 20 seafarers killed in the Gulf and around 30 in the Black Sea this year, the threat has expanded beyond war zones.
D-fend Solutions, founded by Israeli cyber experts, specializes in neutralizing hostile drones by taking control and safely landing them. CEO Jeffrey Starr noted “huge demand” from shipowners and naval forces facing asymmetric threats. Drone Defence’s Richard Gill said protecting vessels enables riskier routes, while the International Chamber of Shipping’s John Stawpert highlighted growing aerial and surface dangers in conflict zones.
Charter costs for supertankers through the Strait of Hormuz hit $1.2mn daily, up from $79,000 in September. Offshore assets like pipelines and wind farms are also targeted, with NATO raising concerns over Russian interference. Previously, anti-drone systems were mainly used by superyachts, but now Marss’ Nidar system is being integrated into commercial fleets.
Rob Balloch of Marss cited falling costs and rising losses as justification for adoption. Systems use radar, cameras, GPS jamming, or kinetic defenses. Drone Defence estimates a full setup costs around $500,000 per oil tanker, while cheaper options like nets and water tanks remain in use.
المصدر: Financial Times Companies · لخّصه HeadlinesBriefing