Mystery surrounds a ‘ spy boat ’ that washed up on the Isle of Tiree earlier this week.
The unmanned robot vessel looks like a large surfboard covered in solar panels and has three small masts on its deck.
It has been identified as a ‘Wave Glider’ made by Liquid Robotics in America - that claims to make the “most experienced ocean surface robot on the planet.”
But since it was discovered less than 100 miles from the Faslane nuclear submarine base, the vessel has not been formally claimed by anyone - leading to conspiracy theorists questioning its owners and mission.
A Royal Navy source told the Record on Friday, the vessel was “definitely not one of ours.”
He added: “This could have drifted to Scotland from anywhere in the world.
“There are quite a few of them in the oceans, going about their business collecting data but if they ever malfunction they would start drifting and would be at the mercy of the currents.”
Photos of the vessel first appeared on the Tiree Coastguard rescue Team’s Facebook page with the message: “The team were called today to reports of an object in the water, once on scene we secured the item.
“We are currently trying to find out some more information as to the objects origin and owner. If anyone has any information please get in touch.”
Commenting on the unusual discovery, a writer on website unexplained-mysteries.com commented: “Exactly where this one had come from and what it was doing still remains a total mystery and to date nobody has come forward to claim ownership of it.
“It is even possible that it ran aground while on some sort of secretive spy mission.
“If that were true however, it's unlikely that any country will come forward to claim it.”
While a contributor to the Interesting Engineering' website said: "Not every spy mission ends well — everyone knows the disavowal clause in "James Bond" films that awaits secret agents if captured.
“But as drones become more capable of carrying out espionage on land, sea, and air — we will probably see more technology lost to the elements.”
Locating the owner of the glider is the responsibility of the Receiver of Wreck - an official UK government post.
As well as identifying ownership of salvaged craft and ensuring that finders are recompensed, the Receiver of Wreck is responsible for 'Royal Fish' – whales, dolphins and sturgeon – considered the property of the monarch in a law dating back to the 14th century.
The Record also reached out to Liquid Robotics who have yet to respond.
However Forbes magazine, in America, quoted a company spokesman as saying: “We have had several reach outs over the washed up platform and have engaged the end user to make them aware of this find.
“I believe they are in the process of reaching out to local authorities with further instructions on the disposal.”
