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# What is a Maritime Drone?
The term "maritime drone" broadly refers to remote-controlled tools utilized across the maritime sector. It encompasses both flying unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) and remotely operated underwater vehicles that can navigate through water. Although maritime drones serve multiple purposes, this article will focus primarily on their airborne applications, which are more prevalent.
The adoption of maritime drones is gaining momentum globally. For instance, in 2021, the European Maritime Safety Agency (EMSA) awarded a €30 million contract to TEKEVER for aerial surveillance of European waters. This underscores the growing reliance on drones for maritime monitoring and operations.
Drones are highly adaptable tools, capable of supporting a variety of applications. Consequently, there has been a surge in marine drone services worldwide. Embracing maritime drone technology represents a significant advancement, and it’s likely that international agencies beyond EMSA will follow suit, integrating drones into their fleets.
## What Are Maritime Drones Used For?
Maritime drones are invaluable in environments that are confined, hard to navigate, and pose dangers to human inspectors or mission participants. They also enhance operational efficiency by reducing the time and resources required for inspections in challenging conditions.
Let’s explore some of the primary uses of maritime drones:
### Cargo Hold Inspections
Cargo holds of ships are typically hazardous places for humans to access. Often, ships fail inspections due to remnants like peeling paint, rust, and other contaminants found in hard-to-reach areas of the hold. These inspections are crucial for ensuring the hold is clean and ready for new cargo.
Regulations in many countries are stringent regarding cargo hold maintenance. Even minor contaminants—like grains, feathers, or sand—can lead to failed inspections. Accessing these areas manually is labor-intensive and time-consuming. By employing maritime drones, cargo holds can be inspected swiftly and effectively, identifying and addressing issues promptly. This approach enhances crew safety and minimizes ship downtime, improving overall operational efficiency.
### Engine Room Inspections
In the event of a fire in the engine room, it may be too risky for human inspectors to enter. Damaged electrical systems, fuel leaks, and high temperatures present significant dangers.
An indoor maritime drone, such as the Elios 3, can be used to assess the situation and confirm that the fire has been extinguished completely. Equipped with advanced features, these drones can operate in extreme heat, providing critical situational awareness. This capability allows responders to evaluate the safety of entering the ship and target specific areas for fire suppression, minimizing risks.
### Ballast and Fuel Tank Inspections
Inspecting ballast and fuel tanks is both dangerous and time-consuming. On some ships, these inspections can take hundreds of hours, involving both close visual checks and ultrasonic thickness (UT) surveys. The longer a ship remains out of operation for inspections or repairs, the higher the operational costs.
Maritime drones drastically reduce inspection times—by up to 90%—and offer comprehensive coverage with greater accuracy than manual inspections. Some drone services provide visual and UT data simultaneously, accelerating the process for class certifications. Moreover, with drones, inspections can occur more frequently, prolonging the lifespan of these critical components.
Check out the video below to see the Elios 2 inspecting a ballast tank:
### Port and Ship-to-Shore Crane Inspections
Inspecting large maritime cranes is costly, time-consuming, and physically demanding. Maritime drones make these inspections more efficient, safer, and data-driven. Maintenance crews can pinpoint structural defects and develop repair or replacement plans by combining visual inspections with AI software. Drones eliminate the need for humans to climb these towering structures due to their immense size.
As with other inspection methods, the integration of maritime drones enables more frequent checks, facilitating preventive maintenance and strategic planning.
### Security and Surveillance
While drones excel in indoor ship inspections, they also play a vital role in border monitoring, combating illegal fishing, drug and human trafficking, and addressing water pollution. Military and border agencies worldwide utilize drones for national security and military purposes.
With multiple sensing capabilities and interchangeable payload options, drones can be configured for various maritime applications. For instance, infrared sensors can detect individuals crossing borders at night or engaging in other illegal activities. Drones enable extensive border patrols over large areas without endangering human agents. By expanding patrol ranges, drones also help protect diverse terrains, including vast stretches of water and mountainous regions.
### Maritime Drone Search and Rescue
First responders have long used drones on land for firefighting and locating missing people in perilous situations. Drones are deployed faster and at a fraction of the cost of traditional search vehicles like helicopters.
Until recently, maritime search and rescue operations were limited due to challenging weather conditions and technological constraints. However, drones have proven their lifesaving capabilities, and the technology is rapidly advancing.
For example, lifeguards are testing drones equipped with flotation devices that inflate upon impact. In Australia, two teenagers were rescued after a Ripper Lifesaver drone deployed a life-saving flotation device. Interestingly, first responders didn’t need to venture into the ocean, enhancing safety and reducing resource usage.
### Drone-to-Ship Deliveries
Operating ships is expensive, and docking at ports for supplies, documents, or other essentials incurs additional costs and delays. Traditional boat delivery services also come with significant expenses.
Given the success of drones in land-based deliveries, it makes perfect sense to adopt them for maritime deliveries. This approach promises to be more cost-effective and practical moving forward.
## Benefits of Using a Maritime Drone
Maritime drones are designed to enhance operational efficiency. Here are some key advantages:
- Reduced downtime for ships, cranes, and other critical infrastructure due to prolonged inspections.
- Elimination of risks to personnel by avoiding exposure to heights, heavy machinery, and hazardous gases.
- UT and close visual inspections using drones can cut inspection times from days to several hundred hours.
- Drone inspections require fewer personnel and resources, significantly lowering costs.
- More detailed and accurate inspections, with results that can serve as long-term records.
- Increased frequency of inspections thanks to the cost and time savings provided by drones.
- Aid in securing borders, ships, and sensitive infrastructure.
- Search and rescue teams can deploy drones to locate missing persons and deliver lifesaving equipment, buying more time for responders to strategize.
- Improved response times and reduced exposure to dangerous conditions during search and rescue missions.
- Drone deliveries can transport essential documents, medicine, or parts directly to ships, eliminating the need to return to port.
## Case Studies of Maritime Drone Services
The use of drones in the maritime industry is growing daily, with specialized contractors offering marine drone services to support inspections, class surveys, and general asset management. One area seeing rapid development is the inspection of interior ship components such as ballast and cargo tanks, engine rooms, and more. Here are a few case studies highlighting the use of maritime drones.
### Saving 15,000 Hours of Work with a Maritime Drone
**Application:** Special Periodical Inspection of oil tanks in a mid-sized ship
**Mission:** Complete UT and close visual inspections in the cargo oil tanks (COT) and transverse bulkheads between each COT
**Results:** Using the drone eliminated the need for scaffolding, which takes up to 15,000 hours to set up and requires teams of 10+ people. Instead, inspections were completed by a pilot and certified inspector. The maritime drone inspection was accepted by the class society.
**Maritime Drone Significance:** This case demonstrates how maritime drone technology can dramatically reduce time and costs associated with complex ship inspections. The success of this inspection highlights the immense potential of drones in the maritime industry.
Read more about this case study of maritime drone inspection of cargo oil tanks.
### Marine Drone Services Save $1 Million for a Hull Inspection
**Application:** Hull inspection for ship class certification
**Mission:** A vessel was undergoing its class survey, where costs can reach $1 million for larger ships.
**Results:** Using the maritime drone Elios 3 eliminated risks and reduced the workforce needed, replacing scaffolding or rafting with drones. Since the Elios 3 is a UT drone, it was possible to simultaneously perform close visual inspections and UT surveys.
**Maritime Drone Significance:** Significant cost savings and enhanced safety have established this drone technology as a viable method for inspections. The marine drone service provider involved in this project certified their results with the American Bureau of Shipping.
Read the full story on using a maritime drone for a hull inspection.
### Inspecting Oil Tanks on an FPSO with a Marine Drone
**Application:** Inspecting tanks on a floating production, storage, and offloading vessel (FPSO).
**Mission:** With a crew of 50-70 people, these vessels demand stringent safety and operational standards. A traditional inspection of the oil tanks onboard can take weeks to prepare before 4-5 rope access technicians are involved. Only 2 tanks are made available at a time.
**Results:** TEXO provided their marine drone services for the inspection, completing the task in 4 days with just 2 people—compared to the traditional timeframe of 2 weeks.
**Maritime Drone Significance:** The Elios 3 provided quick results with minimal labor, while also keeping personnel safely out of the tanks and away from potential hazards.
Read more about the oil tank inspections on an FPSO with a maritime drone.
### Inspecting 63 Tanks with 2 Elios Drones in 2 Weeks
**Application:** Tank inspections at a rig off the coast of Brazil
**Mission:** Perform 63 tank inspections to ensure no rust, corrosion, or structural damage. Efficiency was prioritized to reduce the number of People on Board (PoB).
**Results:** By using the Elios 3 drone, the inspections were completed in just 14 days by 2 staff members—whereas traditionally this would require teams of 3+ people for several months.
**Maritime Drone Significance:** The maritime drones provided a faster inspection method without putting staff into confined spaces or at risk. The minimal crew required helped optimize the PoB during operations.
Learn more about inspecting 63 tanks with drones.
## Types of Maritime Drones
Selecting the right maritime drone depends on whether your intended application is indoor or outdoor.
### Indoor Maritime Drones
#### Flyability Elios 3
The Elios 3 is designed to digitize inaccessible spaces and quickly transform data into actionable insights. Its spherical design and FlyAware software ensure safe inspections inside ballasts, tanks, cargo holds, engine rooms, and virtually any enclosed structure.
Its dual thermal 4K camera system and 16K lumen dust-proof lighting system help detect signs of cracks, corrosion, and structural issues. The Elios 3 is future-proof with a modular payload bay featuring dedicated ports for LIDAR and auxiliary payloads. In 2024, the Elios 3’s payload portfolio was expanded to include an ultrasonic thickness payload developed in collaboration with Cygnus Instruments. This payload transforms the Elios 3 into a UT drone capable of simultaneous close visual inspections, laser scanning, and UT spot measurements.
Using the Inspector 5.0 inspection software, workers can prioritize maintenance efforts more effectively.
**Flyability Elios 3 Specifications/Features:**
- **Dual Thermal/4K Camera Sensor:** 12-megapixel HD live streaming
- **Lighting:** 16k Lumen dust-proof lighting with oblique lighting
- **Flight Time:** 12 minutes
- **Flight Speed:** Up to 7 m/s
- **Transmission System:** Beyond visual line-of-sight
### Outdoor Maritime Drones
#### DJI Matrice 300 RTK
The Matrice 300 RTK is engineered to withstand harsh maritime conditions. With an IP45 rating, 6-directional sensing, and self-heating batteries, it thrives in any environment. Its compatibility with a range of Zenmuse and third-party sensors offers flexibility for various inspections.
With a hot-swappable battery system and 55-minute flight time, you’ll never have to worry about power. Aviation-grade situational awareness provides aircraft attitude, altitude, velocity, wind speed, and direction in DJI’s all-new Primary Flight Display.
Learn more about the DJI Matrice 300 RTK.
#### Schiebel CAMCOPTER S-100
The Schiebel CAMCOPTER S-100 is a versatile helicopter-style drone suitable for civilian and military applications. Its long range, performance, high-tech sensors, and navigation equipment make it ideal for maritime operations.
With 360° coverage, it aids in tracking and identifying maritime-based objects and events. The CAMCOPTER S-100 requires only two people to operate and has a small equipment and logistical footprint.
Integrated spotlights and loudspeakers are also available for search and rescue applications.
Schiebel offers a wide range of sensor options, including:
- Electro-Optical / Infrared
- Synthetic Aperture Radar (SAR)
- Laser Imaging Detection and Ranging (LIDAR)
- Signals Intelligence (SIGINT)
- Hyperspectral
Learn more about the Schiebel CAMCOPTER S-100.
#### Maritime Drone Services
In many cases, shipowners prefer to hire specialists rather than purchasing their own drones. Maritime drone services include operators who are UT certified to gather ultrasonic thickness measurements with UT drones. These services are available globally, with consultants promising significant cost savings, safety improvements, and efficiency boosts.
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This overview of maritime drones highlights their versatility and importance in modern maritime operations. From improving safety to boosting efficiency, drones are transforming the way we inspect, monitor, and maintain critical infrastructure at sea.