Skyports Drone Services and TFG Marine have successfully completed Singapore’s first drone delivery to a bunker tanker, marking a significant step in using uncrewed systems for maritime logistics. The trial, conducted in collaboration with CBS Ventures and the Maritime and Port Authority of Singapore (MPA), involved transporting bunker fuel samples using beyond visual line of sight (BVLOS) drone flights. A Speedbird DLV-2 drone launched from the Maritime Drone Estate and delivered a sample box to TFG Marine’s vessel, MT Diligence, using a winch mechanism. The crew loaded the sample, and the drone safely returned it to land for testing.
This operation followed nearly two years of safety research and regulatory reviews focused on managing hazards such as vessel movement, gas emissions, and static discharge. Skyports oversaw the full operation—including route planning, regulatory clearance, and training—while remote pilots operated the drone from MPA’s Maritime Innovation Lab. With over 130,000 vessel calls annually, Singapore’s port could benefit from such drone-enabled logistics to reduce risk and improve efficiency. Both Skyports and TFG Marine plan to expand these operations in future, citing strong potential for drone use in fuel logistics.