The Port of Jurong in Singapore will investigate the feasibility of ship-to-shore cargo drone deliveries in cooperation with UK-based start-up Skyports Ltd.
The partnership will draw on Skyports’ experience in building take-off and landing infrastructure for cargo drone deliveries to explore how drone delivery technology can be integrated into the existing logistics and cargo operations of Jurong Port.
Skyports will work with regulators and private and public entities to develop a legal framework to deploy the service and expand its ongoing work in Singapore’s maritime sector.
“Drone delivery will bring about faster delivery times, higher labour productivity and reduced emissions,” said Ng Yi Han, Director of Innovation, Technology and Talent Development at the Maritime and Port Authority of Singapore.
The Director praised the deal as an “important milestone” to commercialise maritime ship-to-shore drone deliveries.
“Tremendous progress has been made in the arena of maritime drone delivery services over the past year, and infrastructure development is the next critical step to truly realising the vast opportunities afforded by large-scale drone delivery services,” said Yun-Yuan Tay, Head of Asia Pacific at Skyports.
Tay added that drones will run complementary to boats deliveries and will be more cost effective and faster.
Last year, PTI delved into the use of drones as emerging technology aiding port operations across the globe.
