On October 31st, the DronePort workshop was organized by the Port of Esbjerg and their Innovation Hub Esbjerg with the participation of Esbjerg Airport. The event took stock of the fact that drones will steadily become more and more common components of logistic operations in the air, on the water, under water, whereby they can support helicopters, trucks and workboats.
Port Esbjerg and Esbjerg Airport, 2 DIOL core partners, have been investigating the potential added value of the use of UAVs (unmanned aerial vehicles) and unmanned underwater vehicles (UUV) within their social and economic communities, whereby their role in logistics, offshore energy and healthcare have been considered.
At the center of the workshop was the establishment of a drone port at the Port of Esbjerg and the question of how drones can be used to support the logistics chain of the future – including cargo deliveries and inspection flights to offshore wind farms and energy islands in the North Sea.
As part of the plan, Port of Esbjerg is expected to provide the infrastructure on land and at sea, while Esbjerg Airport will be responsible for airspace control and tower services – ensuring that drones operate safely and efficiently in compliance with applicable aviation regulations and without disrupting crewed flights.
The workshop attracted over 30 members from both public authorities and leading companies based in and around the Port of Esbjerg – all with an interest in how drones can be integrated into an operational set-up.
Through interactive sessions, companies had the opportunity to present specific needs and proposals for how drones, as a concept, can create operational value and support the green transition. The energy in the room was fantastic, with every participant actively sharing insights, experiences, and challenges facing the drone industry today. It was truly encouraging to see such openness and willingness to collaborate across companies, fostering new connections and innovative ideas for the future of drone operations at the port.
During the event, Susanne Kruse Sørensen, Airport Director, presented DIOL and its focus on developing, testing, and demonstrating new, sustainable logistics solutions for the offshore sector in line with the Esbjerg Declaration and Ostend Declaration.