Unmanned Overboard Rescue Vessel Unveiled

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Scottish sea survival innovator Zelim has unveiled the world's first unmanned/manned remotely controlled person-in-water rescue vessel. Dubbed GUARDIAN, the aluminum-hulled vessel is 8.4 meters long and 2.5 meters wide.

With capacity for 11 survivors (nine if GUARDIAN is deployed with a two-person crew), the lightweight Next Generation Fast Rescue Craft (FRC) also benefits from AI-based person-in-water detection and alerting system.

Zelim founder and innovator Sam Mayall said: “Sea survival is hugely dependent on the time it takes to retrieve individuals from the water, but inclement weather can prohibit the launch of manned rescue craft and lives are needlessly lost.

“Ship crews have little time to carry out an effective rescue before maritime conditions prevent the casualty from assisting in their own rescue. When rescue vessels approach, many survivors simply don’t have the strength to pull themselves to safety.

"This is even more difficult when they are unconscious or unresponsive. GUARDIAN has been designed to ensure more people can be rescued in the harshest of weather conditions.”

More than 1,000 people fall overboard annually; about 40% of all such incidents result in fatality.

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