Qingdao: The city of Qingdao in eastern China's Shandong province has officially launched its drone supply service for anchored ships. This new operation marks a significant advancement in the use of low-altitude commercial drones for maritime transport, transitioning from experimental trials to practical field deployment.

According to Thai News Agency, the maiden flight of the drone supply service took place on Thursday, featuring the RY-M90 multirotor drone. This drone, developed and manufactured by a local Qingdao company, embarked on its journey from a base in the West Coast New Development Zone, transporting equipment crucial for immigration and quarantine operations to customs and border control agencies.

The drone successfully flew across the sea for over ten minutes, covering nearly 10 kilometers, to anchorage number 2 in the Qianhai area of Qingdao. It delivered the equipment precisely to its target, an international ocean-going vessel. This innovative approach to maritime logistics management uses large drones to transport goods and equipment from shore to ships, effectively replacing smaller vessels and reducing time and operational steps.

In addition, the use of drones enables officials to conduct preliminary inspection and quarantine procedures for international vessels in advance. This allows ocean-going vessels to complete some inspection processes while docking, enabling immediate operations upon port arrival and significantly enhancing port management efficiency.