Airbus Skyways drones delivered freights from the coast to the ship in the port of Singapore

On March 19, 2019 the company Airbus announced the beginning of testing drone Skyways for delivery of small-size loads in port Singapore. Pilotless technologies were used for an urgent delivery of necessities on working vessels in real port conditions.

The Skyways drone flew up from a pier of Marina South Pier, overcame distance in 1.5 km to the ship standing on an anchor left a load weighing 1.5 kg on the deck, and then returned to a starting point. All flight took no more than ten minutes.

Are tested together with Wilhelmsen Ships Services conducting activity in the field of sea logistics and port services. During tests the Airbus Skyways UAV will lift up to 4 kg of payload and to move independently on the predeterminated "air passage" to the courts which are at distance up to 3 km from the coast.

"Airbus Skyways is result of months-long hard work. It is the next step forward in development of city air mobility and we continue to investigate edges of opportunities for creation of a reliable and safe system of autonomous aircraft". Leo Jeoh, Skyways project manager

"Delivery of necessary spare parts, medicines and cash to the vessel by boats – an integral part of a service portfolio, rendered by the company. Modern technologies, such as pilotless aviation systems are a tool which will keep further development of the industry and will allow us to improve quality of client service". Marius Johansen, vice president for a business activity of Ship Agency, division of Wilhelmsen Ships Services company

Use of the pilotless aviation systems in navigation will allow to expand a service portfolio of the ship agency, to reduce delivery time six times and to reduce costs for it to 90%, to reduce emissions of carbon and to considerably reduce risk of the accidents connected with cargo delivery by boats consider in Airbus.

Skyways is the pilot project directed to creation of direct multimodal transport networks in "the smart cities". Skyways will become a starting point for further development of pilotless air infrastructure and effective operation of autonomous aircraft in the conditions of the city and the marine environment.

In June, 2018 Airbus and Wilhelmsen Ships Services signed the agreement on development of a pilotless aviation system on complex delivery of cargo from the coast to the ship. In November, 2018 with assistance of sea and port management of Singapore on the southern pier of port the landing platform and command center were created. Safety of tests was ensured by Department of Civil Aviation of Singapore, Airbus and Wilhelmsen. After Skyways drones confirm capability to safe and safe delivery of loads on decks of the ships at coast of Singapore, they are waited by the next stage of experimental delivery of sendings by air in city conditions in the territory of the National University of Singapore.