THE USE OF DRONES AND UNMANNED TECHNOLOGIES IN SEARCH AND RESCUE OPERATIONS, FIREFIGHTING AND OIL SPILL RESPONSE: AN INTERNATIONAL CASE STUDY ANALYSIS OF LESSONS LEARNED FROM MARITIME DISASTERS
Fires and oil spills at sea remain among the most destructive maritime incidents, leading to severe human, environmental, and economic losses. This paper explores the transformative role of unmanned technologies in enhancing maritime disaster response and prevention. It focuses on three key systems: unmanned aerial vehicles (RPASs), Remotely Piloted Aircraft Systems (USVs), and remotely operated underwater vehicles (ROVs). These platforms demonstrate growing effectiveness in search-and-rescue operations, firefighting, and oil spill mitigation by providing enhanced situational awareness, minimising human exposure to hazardous conditions, and improving overall operational efficiency. The study reviews selected case studies and international regulatory frameworks to identify best practices and current technological limitations. Furthermore, it proposes potential pathways for integrating autonomous and remotely operated systems into comprehensive maritime security and emergency management structures. The findings suggest that unmanned systems are a critical component of next-generation maritime safety strategies, offering scalable, adaptive, and risk-reducing solutions to address the increasing frequency and scale of marine fires and pollution events.