In the second of a series of trial flights with delivery drones in the port of Rotterdam, logistics consortium Dutch Drone Delta on Sunday delivered a package to the inland vessel Duancis which at the time was moving at normal speed along the waterway near Brienenoord Island.
Earlier this year a drone delivered a package to the deck of the offshore vessel Pioneering Spirit while it was moored at Maasvlakte’s Alexiahaven. The flights are intended to determine whether drone deliveries can increase efficiency in the port as well as simplify circulation in the port area for its users.
A port spokesperson points out that some inland vessels only call on the port for a short time. The crew may not always have time to put a car ashore to collect specific items. “In this event, ordering parts online and having them delivered by drone could save a lot of time.
“If a share of all the deliveries in the port area is handled by drones, this can result in a far quieter port area. After all, drones are electrically powered. But they still aren’t completely silent. That is why Dutch Drone Delta is also examining whether it is desirable to maintain a certain distance from residential areas during deliveries, and if so, how great this should be.”
Trials of this nature also provide initial answers to various key questions held by the providers of drone services, the spokesperson adds. “Which routes need to be developed, how much weight should a drone be able to transport, and where do drone deliveries fit within the logistics chain?”
Dutch Drone Delta partners have bundled together their knowledge and expertise to promote the deployment of drones for large-scale transport and logistics in the airspace of the Netherlands.
