Skyports Drone Services Commences Maritime Drone Demonstrator “BlueWater 2”, Supporting UK Green Shipping
Active Drone Operations
(Copyright text and images - Skyports - reproduced with kind permission)
Skyports Drone Services (Skyports), the global leader in drone-enabled delivery and inspection, has
commenced operations for its clean maritime drone demonstrato “BlueWater 2”.
The project will see Skyports demonstrating drones ’potential to improve maritime sustainability in the UK, conducting aerial emissions monitoring, offshore drone delivery, automated port surveillance and long range maritime surveillance
Supported by Innovate UK and UK SHORE Clean Maritime Demonstration Competition BlueWater 2 has the overall objective of demonstrating how drones can enhance smart shipping, improve port efficiency, reduce greenhouse gas emissions and improve air quality Longer term, the project has the ambition to validate the expansion and commercialisation of the services, and will see Skyports developing reports outlining the commercial opportunities available for these services both across the UK and to other leading maritime nations.
The demonstrator sees Skyports partnering with UK port authorities such as Portsmouth International Port alongside maritime and offshore operators such as the Maritime & Coastguard Authority (MCA) To help guarantee the successful delivery of the demonstrator, Skyports is also partnering with leading UAV service provider Consortiq and Stehr a trusted specialist in Maritime systems engineering, who bring deep expertise in uncrewed systems and a proven track record
supporting complex maritime decarbonisation initiatives.
Further details on each drone demonstrator have been provided by Skyports and are detailed below:
Port and vessel emissions monitoring:
Ships create significant emissions whilst entering and idling in port.
Ports and operators need effective tools to help them monitor and take
action to manage these emissions and improve localised air quality.
This work commenced in November 2025 and was running for 1 month, this demonstrator
will see middle distance environment/emissions monitoring conducted at Portsmouth International Port. Flying the DJI M350 RTK, with a Aeromon BH-12 measuring device, the drone will be measuring for pollutants such
as SOx, NOx, and CO₂, providing real time analysis through Aeromon
Cloud Service (ACS).
Automated port surveillance and monitoring:
Ports have extensive audit and security requirements, which still rely
heavily on fossil fuel-powered patrol boats and vehicles.
The work commenced operations in December 2025 and was running for three months,
this section of the project will see Skyports conducting short-range port surveillance at Portsmouth International Port. Using a DJI Dock 2 “drone-in-a-box” installation, and flying a DJI M3DT, it will see drones flying daily, automated, BVLOS routes around the port estate, with the drones piloted from Skyports’ ROC in Buckinghamshire.
Offshore drone delivery to moving vessels:
Ships in port and at sea, alongside offshore assets, still rely on emission intensive helicopters and vessels for logistics support.
Commencing in November 2025 and running for 1 month, this demonstrator will see ship-to-shore drone deliveries conducted from Predannack Airfield, Cornwall. Flying the Skyways V2, the automated drone will deliver payloads to moving vessels at sea.
Long range maritime surveillance:
Fisheries inspections and maritime border control operations rely primarily on helicopter surveillance, which are fuel and time intensive.
Commencing in January 2026 and running for 1 month, this demonstrator saw long-range maritime surveillance conducted from Lydd airfield, above the Straits of Dover. Flying the Quantum Systems Vector, and collaborating with the Maritime and Coastguard Agency (MCA), the drone will provide a fully automated, satcom-enabled, long-endurance BVLOS surveillance service, supporting coastguard operations.
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Alex Brown, CEO, Skyports Drone Services, said:
“The shipping sector needs to decarbonise and embrace smarter solutions like drones and
artificial intelligence. Shipping related emissions are projected to
reach 17% of global total emissions by 2050 if left unchecked. BlueWater
2 addresses this key challenge with a scalable solution: low-emission
electric and hybrid drones that reduce reliance on fuel and emissions
intensive systems. The project will enable operationally ready services
previously constrained by regulatory gaps, cost, and limited technology
validation, whilst opening access to a high-value market with urgent
demand for low-emission alternatives.”
Bryce Allcorn, Chief Operating Officer, Consortiq, said:
"BlueWater 2 represents exactly the kind of forward-thinking collaboration that
drives meaningful progress in the drone and maritime sectors. At
Consortiq, we’re proud to bring our operational expertise, regulatory
insight, and consultancy pedigree to a project that demonstrates how
safe, data-driven UAS operations can enhance sustainability, efficiency,
and compliance across UK ports and offshore environments. Our role is to
ensure that innovative drone concepts like these translate into
practical, scalable solutions that seamlessly integrate into the UK’s
evolving airspace framework, while building on the learnings and success
from the original BlueWater project in the Solent region. Consortiq once
again welcomes the opportunity to work with Skyports alongside Stehr
Consulting to achieve a meaningful outcome"”
Ashley Stehr, Director, Stehr Consulting, said:
"As trusted problem solvers in the Maritime sector, Stehr Consulting is proud to support
BlueWater 2. Our team combines deep systems engineering expertise with
hands-on experience in uncrewed air systems for Maritime applications.
We believe that integrating advanced drone technologies is key to
unlocking smarter, greener shipping and delivering real-world impact for
ports, operators, and the wider Maritime ecosystem. Our mission is to
enable safe, sustainable, and efficient operations by bridging the gap
between innovative technology and practical delivery. We’re committed
to supporting industry and government partners as they navigate the
transition to Net Zero."
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BlueWater 2 builds the previous success of BlueWater 1, conducted in
early 2025, which provided an initial trial that used drones for
real-time surveillance and monitoring for safer, greener more efficient
maritime operations.
Working as a part of UK SHORE, BlueWater 2 sits at the forefront of
helping decarbonise one of the most potent sectors for carbon emissions
in the UK – transport. It will also help to drive regional development
and growth opportunities through the development of new technologies and
industries.
BlueWater2 is funded by UK Government through the UK Shipping Office
for Reducing Emissions (UK SHORE) [5] programme in the Department for
Transport. UK SHORE has allocated over £230m since 2022 to develop the
technologies necessary to decarbonise the UK maritime sector and capture
the economic growth opportunity of the transition. Innovate UK, part of
UK Research and Innovation, is the main delivery partner for UK SHORE
interventions.
BlueWater2 is one of many projects demonstrating and showcasing their
project and technology around the UK in 2025, involving a variety of
vessel types and new infrastructure in ports and harbours.
