The Wilhelmsen group has launched its drone delivery service to ships.
The Singapore pilot project is being run with Airbus.
A variety of small, time-critical items have been flown out to working vessels at anchorage.
The drones have lifted off from Marina South Pier in Singapore with 3D printed items 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.
Swire Pacific Offshore's 3,300-dwt anchor-handler Pacific Centurion (built 2015) took the first 1.5kg delivery.
The operation took 10 minutes.
Marius Johansen, VP of commercial at Wilhelmsen Ships Agency, said: “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”.
Drones can potentially reduce delivery costs by up to 90% in some ports, the company said.
Other operators to sign up include Optimum Marine Management, Fleet Management, Zeaborn Ship Management, Pola East, SK Shipping and sister company Wilhelmsen Ship Management.
