Norway-based Wilhelmsen Ships Service is planning a drone-based ship delivery service which it said would be “a cost-effective alternative to hiring a launch whenever a ship needs a few documents or a spare part”. A demonstration was planned for Nor Shipping conference.
Marius Johansen, WSS Ships Agency VP for business solutions and marketing, said that the drone service would save time and money on deliveries, down from a current $1,500 to as little as $150, when the new service is established. A working pilot project in a large port is planned before the end of the year. The firm does not expect aviation regulations to restrict the service. Maersk Tankers supply chain manager Markus Kuhn has said that Maersk was testing drones for all sorts of purposes, including inspections of Maersk Oil’s offshore assets and APM Terminals’ port facilities.