Mauritius Advances Maritime Inspection into the Era of Underwater Drones

Mauritius has taken a historic step in maritime innovation with EAGLON, a remotely operated vehicle developed entirely locally by Emergent Maritime Technologies (EMT). Selected by the International Maritime Organization (IMO) following an international call for projects, this technology allows for the inspection of ship hulls without divers, enhancing safety and facilitating the fight against biofouling, a phenomenon responsible for excessive fuel consumption and the spread of invasive marine species.

During a successful test dive of the underwater drone on January 13, 2026, the device was able to capture images of jellyfish, which were present in the thousands in the Port Louis harbor that day. Contrary to popular belief, the depths of Port Louis are home to a rich underwater fauna, ranging from schools of jacks to coral colonies.

The official hull inspection demonstration took place on January 28, 2026, in the Port Louis harbor as part of the IMO TEST Biofouling project, under the auspices of the Maritime Technology Cooperation Centre (MTCC) Africa, with the support of the Ministry of Agro-Industry, Blue Economy, and the Mauritius Ports Authority. The exercise was conducted on the hull of the ship Mauritius Trochetia, docked at quay 3.

Video credit: EMT