Potential and limitations with UAV deliveries to ships at sea

Abstract

This study examines Swedish shipping’s attitude towards deliveries with Unmanned Aerial Vehicle (UAV) to ships at sea and its main benefits and challenges in comparison to traditional launch boat deliveries. UAVs were found to be more cost efficient, have a shorter total delivery time, less environmental impact and the possibility to eliminate risks for injuries that might occur during traditional deliveries. The main challenges found with UAV deliveries was the limited lifting capacity, regulations and classification for explosive atmospheres. Analyses made from conducted interviews with five different Swedish shipping companies shows that the attitude towards UAVs in the industry are optimistic and that the method could be a possible substitute to launch boat deliveries in trafficked areas globally. The majority of the respondents in the interviews consider shipping to be very conservative and therefore new technology like UAV deliveries needs to mature outside the industry before being accepted and implemented.