The Port of Antwerp and the European Maritime Safety Agency (EMSA) have joined forces to implement the use of drones to support enforcement and control in the Antwerp port area.
The drone pilot will accompany port authority officers during their enforcement tasks and provide them with a bird's-eye view of the situation on the ground. The images can also be accessed remotely, so they can be shared quickly with emergency services if necessary.
The drone will not only be used during regular checks, but also in the event of incidents in order to gain a quick insight into the situation. The imagery of oil incidents will also be used by the University of Antwerp to train algorithms to automatically detect oil incidents in the future.
According to harbour master at the Port of Antwerp, Paul Wauters, the use of drones will play an increasingly important role in the port of the future. The ultimate goal is a network of autonomous drones that can provide a ‘live feed’ of the various port activities in the context of a smart, safe and efficient port.
The Port of Antwerp covers more than 120 square metres and contains sensitive industrial infrastructure, says Wauters. “The use of drones can make a major contribution to overall safety in this complex environment.”
