Law enforcement vessel under prolonged aerial surveillance by unmanned aircrafts
Russian Freighter Under Continuous Monitoring by German Police in the North Sea
German authorities are maintaining close watch over a Russian freighter in the North Sea. According to media reports, the drones of the Federal Police were allegedly targeted by unknown drones during the operation. The incident took place on May 17, around midnight, when the Federal Police's patrol ship "BP 81 Potsdam" was monitoring the Russian freighter "Lauga."
The incident occurred approximately 140 kilometers north of the island of Borkum. The German patrol ship and the Russian freighter were reportedly followed by seven unidentified drones for almost three hours. The police officers observed green and red position lights but were unable to identify the drone types. No recordings were possible due to the darkness, the reports claimed. It remains unclear whether the drones originated from the Russian freighter.
Authorities have heightened their surveillance of critical infrastructure and military facilities in North and East Germany following an increase in drone sightings over the past few years. The wingspan of these drones is reported to have been as large as five meters. However, it is unusual for the German Armed Forces or the police to successfully neutralize or catch a drone pilot.
In response to the incident, the Federal Police requested Belgian authorities to inspect the Russian freighter upon its arrival at the target port. However, no evidence of drones was found during the inspection.
Maritime security concerns have become a priority in the North Sea and Baltic Sea regions due to geopolitical tensions. The need to protect critical infrastructure and sea routes has led to heightened surveillance efforts by various nations, including Germany. The Bundeswehr and the Federal Police have been involved in maritime security operations and have also been authorized to install military surveillance equipment on offshore energy facilities. Although specific details about drone deployments for monitoring Russian freighters are scarce, they form part of the broader maritime security framework.
Sources: ntv.de, jpe/AFP
- In light of increasing geopolitical tensions and maritime security concerns in the North Sea and Baltic Sea regions, the common foreign and security policy of the European Union becomes crucial, as political cooperation among nations is essential to address issues like cybersecurity and technology in politics, particularly in the context of drone activities.
- As an extension of the common foreign and security policy, the European Union (EU) should focus on the development of strategies that ensure cybersecurity in the maritime domain, given the increasing use of drone technology for nefarious purposes, as seen in the recent incident involving a Russian freighter in the North Sea.
