Skyports and TFG Marine Completes First Drone Deliveries Involving Bunker Tanker Vessels in Singapore

Skyports Drone Services (Skyports), a global leader in drone delivery and inspection services, has successfully completed Singapore’s first Shore-to-Ship beyond visual line of sight (BVLOS) drone deliveries and collections of bunker fuel samples to and from bunker tanker vessels.

The trial, conducted with TFG Marine, CBS Ventures, and the Maritime and Port Authority of Singapore, aimed to review the safety of using drones to improve tanker vessel operations. The drones successfully transported bunker fuel samples to and from TFG Marine’s vessel MT Diligence, offering a faster, safer, more efficient and more sustainable alternative to traditional in-person deliveries by launch boats.

The Speedbird DLV-2 drone, operated remotely from MPA’s Maritime Innovation Lab (MIL) 3.0, departed Skyports’ designated Take Off and Landing Pad (TOLP) at the Maritime Drone Estate, flying BVLOS to the vessel. Arriving at the vessel, the drone descended above deck and lowered a cargo box to where trained TFG Marine crew loaded the bunker oil sample. After loading, the crew signaled to the remote pilot and vacated the area to a safe zone. The remote pilot then flew the drone back to the TOLP. From there, TFG Marine personnel collected the oil sample, taking it to its lab on land for quality testing.

With nearly two years of research and regulatory discussions by the team, which included prior checks for electrostatic discharge and conducting real-time gas and vessel drift measurements before drone operations on MT Diligence, a key objective of the trial was to validate and show that drones have the capability to safely operate in marine refueling environments with risk mitigation measures in place.

During the flight route planning, the drones were planned to approach the tanker perpendicularly to the winch area, avoiding hazardous zones of the tanker. In case of signal loss, the drone is also pre-programmed to exit along its flight path. Following the trial and analysis of the results, Skyports will continue to work with MPA and the tanker community to expand the trials and strengthen safety protocols.

After the successful completion of the trials, Alex Brown, Director of Drone Services, Skyports, said, “With Singapore seeing over 130,000 vessel calls annually, according to statistics from the MPA, drone technology has real potential to reduce the risks associated with vessel-to-vessel transfers in Singapore’s port waters and enhance operational efficiency.”

Kenneth Dam, Global Head of Bunkering, TFG Marine, also commented, “TFG Marine is pleased to support innovative technology that can transform traditional maritime activities. We’re constantly looking to improve operational performance and make bunkering services easier with a focus on transparency and reliability through digital solutions. We’re excited to partner with Skyports and the Maritime Port Authority of Singapore on a new drone delivery initiative in one of the world’s busiest ports.”

A downloadable video of the drone in action can be found on this link here.