The Naming Ceremony for ETME’s USSPS (Unmanned Semi-fixed Sea Platform for Maritime Surveillance) unmanned floating maritime surveillance platform took place at the premises of Salamis Shipyards. The platform was named “Panoptis”, inspired by Argus Panoptes from Greek mythology, as a symbolic reference to continuous surveillance, vigilance and uninterrupted operational monitoring in the maritime domain. The naming of the platform was performed by Dr. Georgios D. Pateras, Vice President of Contships Management Inc. and former President of the Hellenic Chamber of Shipping.
The ceremony marked another important milestone on the path towards the completion of the project, which is being implemented by ETME, as programme coordinator, in collaboration with Salamis Shipyards and the partners of the multinational consortium. The construction of the platform at Salamis Shipyards highlights the importance of the domestic industrial base, while the overall project confirms the active role of Greek expertise in the development of advanced maritime surveillance capabilities.
The Panoptis platform incorporates ETME’s patent in the field of regional network-centric maritime surveillance and is the first of its kind worldwide, introducing a new category of unmanned naval platforms: USSPSs, or Unmanned Semi-fixed Sea Platforms. It combines technological elements from offshore hydrocarbon extraction, offshore wind farms, unmanned systems and artificial intelligence, with the aim of integrating and incorporating field data through advanced algorithms.
The Panoptis platform is being implemented under the USSPS programme, within the framework of the European Defence Industrial Development Programme (EDIDP), under the supervision of the General Directorate for Defence Investments and Armaments (GDDIA) of the Hellenic Ministry of National Defence and in cooperation with the Republic of Cyprus. The project includes the participation of France’s Naval Group, whose role as technical coordinator has been catalytic, Spain’s Navantia, as well as Applied Intelligence Analytics Limited, Cyprus Research and Innovation Center Ltd, Foundation for Research and Technology Hellas, Stichting Maritiem Research Instituut Nederland, Prolexia SARL, Multimedia Workshop PLC, Sener Aeroespacial S.A., SignalGeneriX Limited, SMST Designer & Constructors B.V., Techlam SAS, Tecnobit SLU and Unmanned Teknologies Applications S.L.
On the Greek side, in addition to ETME, the Foundation for Research and Technology – Hellas (FORTH) also participates in the project. This composition highlights the scope and significance of European industrial and research cooperation in the defence sector, as well as ETME’s role in coordinating complex programmes with an international footprint.
During the event, remarks and addresses were delivered by Mr. George Panagopoulos, Mayor of Salamis; Mr. Gkikas, Deputy Minister of Maritime Affairs and Insular Policy; Dr. Dimitrios Terzis, Secretary General for Research and Innovation; Dr. Athanasios Dokos, Secretary General for National Security; Major General Ioannis Bouras, General Director of GDDIA; Mr. Pantelis Tzortzakis, Chairman of the Board and CEO of HCDI; Mr. Patrick Mauffrey, USSPS Project Director for Naval Group; and Dr. Georgios Koros, President and CEO of Salamis Shipyards.
Mr. Antonis Peppas, CEO of ETME, stated: “The long journey of technological development is being completed today. In the years to come, Panoptis will provide real field data for the training of advanced algorithms, offer maritime surveillance imagery, and at the same time serve as a testing ground for technologies in a real maritime environment. Its applications also extend to non-defence purposes, providing weather, sea state, environmental and critical infrastructure monitoring data with high reliability. The technology is such that it allows a network of platforms such as Panoptis to become part of the Shield of Achilles and other applications of interest relating to critical infrastructure and navigation safety.”
The presence of representatives of the State, the defence and research community, industry and the entities involved highlighted the importance of the USSPS programme as a flagship initiative in the fields of defence, innovation and maritime surveillance, with a strong Greek and European footprint. Today’s ceremony confirms the steady progress of the project and the systematic cooperation of all parties involved towards its successful completion.
