Tuesday, October 14, 2025

Skyports Drone Companies and TFG Marine efficiently full Singapore’s first ever drone operations involving bunker tanker vessels, safely transporting bunker samples

Skyports Drone Companies (Skyports), the worldwide chief in drone supply and inspection companies for healthcare, maritime, logistics and vitality use circumstances, has efficiently and safely accomplished Singapore’s first Shore-to-Ship past visible line of sight (BVLOS) drone deliveries and collections of bunker gas samples to and from bunker tanker vessels.

Performed in partnership with the TFG Marine, CBS Ventures and the Maritime and Port Authority of Singapore (MPA), the trial aimed to overview security parameters for utilizing drones to enhance tanker vessel operations. The flights demonstrated that drones will be safely utilized in marine fueling environments akin to round bunker tankers, underneath stringent security necessities.

The trials concluded with the drones efficiently transporting bunker gas samples to and from TFG Marine’s vessel MT Diligence. This gives a sooner, safer, and extra sustainable different to in-person deliveries made by TFG Marine’s launch boats, which contain much less environment friendly vessel-to-vessel crossings of supply personnel.

Operated remotely from MPA’s Maritime Innovation Lab (MIL) 3.0, the Speedbird DLV-2 drone departed Skyports’ designated Take Off and Touchdown Pad (TOLP) on the Maritime Drone Property, flying BVLOS to the vessel. As soon as on the vessel, the drone descended above the deck, reducing a cargo field on its winch, to the place educated TFG Marine crew loaded the bunker oil pattern. Signaling to the distant pilot, the crew vacated the realm to a secure zone, with the distant pilot retracting the winch and flying the drone again to the TOLP. From there, TFG Marine personnel collected the oil pattern, taking it to its lab on land for high quality testing.

A core a part of the trial was validating and demonstrating that drones can safely function in marine refueling environments with danger mitigation measures in place. This concerned intensive analysis and regulatory discussions over the course of almost two years, together with pre-trial checks on electrostatic discharge from the drone, and  performing real-time gasoline and vessel drift measurements previous to drone operations on MT Diligence. In flight route planning, the drones additionally approached the tanker perpendicularly to the winch space with a structured flight sequence, avoiding essentially the most hazardous areas of the tanker. Within the unlikely occasion of a sign loss, the drone can also be preprogrammed to exit the best way it approached the vessel.

Through the trial Skyports supplied a full end-to-end service, together with route planning, regulatory approvals, drone operations, coaching to vessel crew and information assortment and evaluation.

Following the trial and evaluation of the outcomes, Skyports will proceed to work with MPA and the tanker group to broaden the trials and strengthen security protocols.

Alex Brown, Director of Drone Companies, Skyportsmentioned: “With Singapore seeing over 130,000 vessel calls yearly, in keeping with statistics from the MPA, drone know-how has actual potential to scale back the dangers related to vessel-to-vessel transfers in Singapore’s port waters and improve operational effectivity. After intensive analysis, coaching and preparation by our staff over the past two years we’re proud to see our staff efficiently and safely finishing their trials, offering a confirmed roadmap to drone operations round marine refueling environments.”

Kenneth Dam, World Head of Bunkering, TFG Marinementioned: “TFG Marine is happy to help modern know-how that may rework conventional maritime actions. We’re continuously trying to enhance operational efficiency and make bunkering companies simpler with a give attention to transparency and reliability by digital options. We’re excited to associate with Skyports and the Maritime Port Authority of Singapore on a brand new drone supply initiative in one of many world’s busiest ports.”


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