ADLC has completed a trial commercial mission using a cargo drone to transport petroleum samples between Singapore’s Maritime Drone Estate at Marina South and a marine petroleum terminal on Pulau Sebarok.
The 17 August flight covered approximately 13km each way, following the route intended for daily operations. ADLC said the mission involved collecting and sealing a petroleum sample at the terminal, placing it in a certified dangerous-goods container and transporting it beyond visual line of sight (BVLOS) to the mainland under live tracking shared with authorities.
The company’s PW.ORCA cargo drone can carry up to 15kg in a 96-litre payload bay, according to ADLC. The company said the Singapore operation represents its first APAC deployment and was conducted under a CAAS permit covering the BVLOS operation.
The mission was observed by regulators, terminal operators, surveyors and shipping companies including Columbia Shipmanagement, Wilhelmsen, PSA Singapore and Advario.
ADLC said the operation follows its terminal-to-laboratory drone logistics model already used in commercial operations at the Port of Antwerp-Bruges.
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Image: ADLC (Credit: Kieran Tan, Matthieu G.)