Tekirdağ Metropolitan Municipality has deployed remote-controlled unmanned lifeguard vehicles on the beaches of Marmaraereğlisi, Süleymanpaşa, and Şarköy to assist people at risk of drowning. The devices reach individuals in difficulty as quickly as possible to help them stay afloat on the water.
Operators trained in coastal lifeguard procedures control the unmanned watercraft remotely from the shore. The primary goal is to reach an incident location quickly and provide initial flotation support before sending a lifeguard directly into the water, helping the person remain safe until a professional arrives.
Built for high speed and maneuverability, the vehicles operate in both calm sea conditions and wavy waters. Shore-based operators steer the craft directly toward swimmers in danger, offering an advantage when responding to individuals far from the coast or delayed by rough waves.
Response time reduction
According to information shared by Tekirdağ Metropolitan Municipality, a lifeguard takes approximately 120 seconds to swim to a person in distress at a standard distance. The unmanned lifeguard vehicles reduce this duration to 20 seconds, shortening the initial response time by approximately six times.
According to information provided by the municipality, the craft function alongside a drone-supported surveillance system and trained shore operators. Drones monitor wide coastal and sea areas from the air, allowing potential dangers to be identified earlier so the watercraft can be dispatched promptly.
The drones handle aerial surveillance and incident detection, while the unmanned lifeguard vehicles navigate directly to the individual to perform the initial response.
Summer deployment and beach coverage
The unmanned lifeguard vehicles, which were reported to have produced successful results in operational drills, will serve throughout the summer season across designated coastal areas in Marmaraereğlisi, Süleymanpaşa, and Şarköy. Municipality plans focus on deploying the units at heavily used coastal locations, particularly blue flag beaches.
