LE Eithne will use drones to crack down on illegal fishing and pollution offences, with video evidence-gathering being 10 area that will benefit from the technology, according to sources. The move followed the successful use of drones during humanitarian rescue missions in the Mediterranean last year by The Irish Navy vessel LE Eithne as part of Operation Sophia . The missions, part of the EU-led Operation Sophia, trialed the Phantom 4 PRO, drones which can stay airborne for 35 minutes and which have a maximum range of eight kilometers. Lieutenant Commander Phil Watson , who led drone operations on Irish Navy , said the technology could also be used in drug or contraband smuggling observations.
LE Eithne will use drones to crack down on illegal fishing and pollution offences, with video evidence-gathering being 10 area that will benefit from the technology, according to sources. The move followed the successful use of drones during humanitarian rescue missions in the Mediterranean last year by The Irish Navy vessel LE Eithne as part of Operation Sophia . Lieutenant Commander Phil Watson , who led drone operations on Irish Navy , said the technology could also be used in drug or contraband smuggling observations.