Wilhelmsen and Airbus trial first drone delivery to vessels at anchorage

The drones, or autonomous unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs), can potentially reduce delivery costs by up to 90% in some ports and have a smaller carbon footprint than launch boats.

“Delivery of essential spares, medical supplies and cash to Master via launch boat, is an established part of our portfolio of husbandry services, which we provide day in and day out, in ports all over the world. Modern technology such as Unmanned Aircraft Systems (UAS), is just a new tool, albeit a very cool one, with which we can push our industry ever forward and improve how we serve our customers,” said Marius Johansen, vp commercial, Wilhelmsen Ships Agency.

Offering a more cost effective, quicker and safer means of delivering, small, time-critical items to vessels, Wilhelmsen sees delivery by drone, rather than launch boat, as part and parcel of their continued evolution of the agency business.

Lifting off from Marina South Pier in Singapore with 3D printed consumables from Wilhelmsen’s onshore 3D printing micro-factory, the Airbus Skyways drone navigated autonomously along pre-determined ‘aerial-corridors’ in its 1.5km flight to Eastern Working Anchorage.

The drone landed on the deck of the Swire Pacific Offshore (SPO)’s AHTS vessel, Pacific Centurion, and deposited its 1.5kg cargo before returning to its base. The entire delivery, from take-off towards the vessel, to landing back at base, took just 10 minutes.

“The now proven, seamless operation of drone deliveries from shore-to-ship, in one of the world’s busiest ports, proves the hard work, investment and faith we, and indeed our partners, placed in the Agency by Air drone delivery project over the past two years was not misplaced,” Johansen said.

The ongoing pilot trial will for now, focus on OSVs at anchorage 1.5km from the pier.

The Maritime and Port Authority of Singapore (MPA) is facilitating the trial, which started in late November 2018, through the interim use of Marina South Pier as the launching and landing point for Airbus’ delivery drone. At the same time, MPA has designated anchorages for vessels to anchor off Marina South for the trial.

A number of customers have already committed to the project including, Optimum Marine Management, Fleet Management, Zeaborn Ship Management, Pola East, SK Shipping, and sister company Wilhelmsen Ship Management.