Wilhelmsen and Airbus trial drone deliveries to vessels at anchorage

Wilhelmsen and Airbus have started a shore-to-ship Singapore pilot project, marking the first deployment of drone technology in real-time port conditions, delivering a variety of small, time-critical items to working vessels at anchorage.

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 its1.5 km flight to Eastern Working Anchorage.

The drone landed on the deck of the Swire Pacific Offshore (SPO)’s Anchor Handling Tug Supply (AHTS) vessel, M/V Pacific Centurion and deposited its 1.5 kg cargo before returning to its base.