DUBAI / WAM
The UAE-based Al Marakeb Boat Manufacturing Company has revealed the launch of its latest offering, the B7X. The new model, which can be utilised for both manned and unmanned operations, is also being dubbed as the world’s first ever mass produced dual-use USV being made available for commercial purposes.
The B7X, along with Al Marakeb’s other models, are all manufactured, assembled, integrated and tested in the UAE. The B7X can be used for a wide variety of potential defence and civil applications, including vessel monitoring, law enforcement, automated commercial transportation, search and rescue and surveillance, among others.
The new USV model comes equipped with a MAP Pro conversion kit, a technology that is created by MAP Marine Technologies (MAP-Tech), a leading local maritime autonomy experts and a subsidiary of Al Marakeb, which converts regular manned vessels to unmanned models, allowing the boat to be driven as a regular vessel or be operated remotely from a ground control station.