Pictured at the signing of the contract for Security Administrators Limited (SAL) to provide remote-operated vehicles (ROVs) manufactured by VIDEORAY are: (standing, from left) Chris Gibson, marketing executive of VIDEORAY; Captain John Ulett, managing director of SAL; and David Francis, operations manager of SAL. Seated are Grantley Stephenson (left), chairman of SAL, and Scott Bentley, president of VIDEORAY, who both signed the contract. On the table is an ROV machine. - Contributed

Security Adminstrators Limited (SAL), the providers of security for Port Bustamante, has negotiated a contractual arrangement with VIDEORAY, the United States company that manufactures and distributes remote-operated vehicles (ROV).

The contract was signed on Wednesday, December 13, between the SAL Chairman Grantley Stephenson and VIDEORAY President Scott Bentley. This arrangement means that SAL will now undertake sale of ROVs in the Caribbean.

ROV machines have been used by SAL for the past three years in the examination of the underwater sections of ships when they are in port, in search of contraband. Using the ROV machines, SAL has been able to make four finds of metal canisters containing compressed marijuana. These canisters were found attached to the hulls of ships. On a worldwide scale where the ROV is used for this purpose, SAL is the only company that has used this underwater vehicle to find drugs on the hulls of ships.

The company made a decision to begin using ROVs when the other methods of searching for contraband - using divers to search the underwater sections of the ship - resulted in some divers being murdered. Since then, SAL has become the regional expert in ROV technology and has conducted training in the use of the machines in several other Caribbean territories.

Managing Director of SAL, Capt. John Ulett, said at the contract signing, "SAL is looking forward to the new challenge of marketing and selling this superb product and also to diversifying its services."

The ROV can also be used in dams, rivers and all other deepwater areas to do underwater inspections and examinations. The ROV is able to record images captured underwater on both DVD and VHS. The use of ROVs is a part of the ongoing effort to make Jamaica's ports free of illegal drug smuggling.