Harrison County rescue teams dive deep with underwater drones

GULFPORT, Miss. (WLOX) – They swim, bounce videos and can save lives too.

The Harrison County Fire Department is using the technology to aid underwater search, rescue and recovery efforts using two remotely operated vehicles. The submersible drone and its little colleague have been in service for about a year.

“It’s like a drone that you fly through the air,” said Harrison County Fire Chief Pat Sullivan. “These are made to go underwater. They have cameras on them. The reason we have them is primarily for search and rescue. If it’s a rescue, then absolutely we can do it, catch someone, or bring them back. “

The smaller one can penetrate tight spaces, while the larger one can go 12 knots underwater and has a range of 1,000 feet in several directions.

“The other thing we can use them for – and we’ve used them – is for inspections under bridges, pilings,” Sullivan said. “And if there’s something we need to look into that maybe it isn’t appropriate to bring in a diver – say, contaminated water and a leak in the pipeline – and we’re concerned about the safety of the diver. “

Whether they are pushing through debris in the river or searching for survivors after a crash at sea, underwater drones are just additional tools to keep first responders safe and efficient.

“It’s about getting the job done and not putting the people at risk, but getting the mission done,” Sullivan added.

The Harrison County Fire Department is one of the few in southern Mississippi that has this type of equipment, the chief said.

Copyright 2021 WLOX. All rights reserved.