The unmanned vehicles will deliver spare parts, medical equipment, documentation and other products printed using 3D printers. The idea is to bypass much of the congestion that Asian ports are nowadays notorious for.
In addition to faster speeds, the drones will also prevent contamination from spreading. However, the most significant factor behind the decision to use them is that they represent a 90% cost-saving when compared with the use of launches.
Wilhelmsen, Airbus and the Port of Singapore Authority have been working on the details of the project for a year, with Airbus now ready to obtain all the necessary licenses prior to the start of the trials. The drones will operate on distances of up to three kilometres from the coast.
