MUSCAT: International maritime security and risk management specialist Ambrey has signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with Oman's Ibn Firnas Drone Center (IFDC) to jointly develop advanced drone-based solutions for maritime surveillance, coastal monitoring and operational risk management.
The agreement, signed last week with the support of Oman's Ministry of Transport, Communications and Information Technology (MoTCIT), brings together Ambrey's international maritime expertise and IFDC's capabilities in unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs), including vertical take-off and landing (VTOL) platforms.
According to Ambrey, the partnership establishes a framework for developing, testing and commercially deploying innovative technologies aimed at improving maritime situational awareness, operational effectiveness and risk mitigation.
The collaboration will encompass proofs of concept, technology demonstrations, competitive tenders and commercial projects, potentially opening opportunities for deploying drone-based solutions across Oman's extensive coastline, ports and offshore installations.
The initiative comes amid growing interest in the use of autonomous aerial technologies to support maritime security, vessel monitoring, offshore infrastructure inspections, environmental surveillance and emergency response operations.
Ambrey, an established international provider of maritime security, intelligence, risk management and emergency response services, says it brings considerable operational experience to the partnership. Its capabilities encompass maritime threat intelligence, security operations, crisis response and complex marine salvage assignments.
The company's credentials in Oman were recently highlighted by its involvement in the emergency response to the stricken tanker Caroline Bezengi, located offshore near the Al Hallaniyat Islands in Dhofar Governorate.
Ambrey was engaged in the salvage operation, mobilising specialist personnel, vessels, aircraft and more than 100 tonnes of equipment as part of an international response effort.
Working alongside Omani authorities, its specialists boarded the tanker to assess conditions and initiate cargo and vessel stabilisation measures. The operation, undertaken amid challenging khareef monsoon conditions, also involved support from an international oil spill response specialist.
Its Omani partner, IFDC, is an emerging domestic technology company specialising in UAV systems, autonomous flight technologies, artificial intelligence and advanced aerial data analytics.
Established in 2018, the Muscat-headquartered company provides drone-based surveying, mapping, infrastructure inspection and industrial monitoring services. Its technological portfolio includes VTOL platforms, AI-assisted inspection capabilities and digital twin applications, alongside professional drone pilot training through Firnas Academy.
Beyond commercial opportunities, the collaboration aligns with Oman's broader ambitions to develop indigenous drone technology capabilities, strengthen maritime resilience and encourage private-sector participation in advanced air mobility and autonomous systems, the partners stressed.
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