Drone-enabled delivery and inspection specialist, Skyports Drone Services, has begun live operations for BlueWater 2, its latest clean-maritime drone demonstrator designed to showcase how uncrewed drones can enhance port efficiency, reduce emissions and support the UK’s wider decarbonisation agenda.
It will demonstrate the potential for drones to improve maritime sustainability in the UK, conducting aerial emissions monitoring, offshore drone delivery, automated port surveillance and long range maritime surveillance.
Backed by Innovate UK and UK Shipping Office for Reducing Emissions (UK SHORE) programme through the Clean Maritime Demonstration Competition 6 (CMDC6), the project brings together UK port authorities and maritime operators to validate how drones can be deployed across four core use cases: emissions monitoring, offshore drone delivery, automated port surveillance and long-range maritime surveillance.
The programme aims not only to demonstrate operational capability but to build the commercial framework for wider rollout in the UK and other leading maritime nations. Skyports will develop a series of commercial opportunity reports as part of the initiative.
UK SHORE has allocated over £230m since 2022 to over 247 projects, leveraging over £107m private investment. Innovate UK, part of UK Research and Innovation, is the main delivery partner for UK SHORE interventions, including the flagship CMDC and ZEVI competitions.
Industry partnerships
BlueWater 2 brings Skyports together with Portsmouth International Port, the Maritime & Coastguard Authority (MCA), UAV specialist Consortiq and systems engineering firm Stehr Consulting. The partners will support a series of live demonstrations running from November 2025 to early 2026.
Consortiq and Stehr Consulting will provide operational, regulatory and systems engineering expertise to underpin safe delivery and integration of BVLOS drone operations into the maritime environment.
Demonstrator missions
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.
Commencing in November 2025 and running for one month, Skyports will deploy a DJI M350 RTK equipped with an Aeromon BH-12 sensor at Portsmouth International Port to measure SOx, NOx and CO₂ emissions from vessels. Data will be delivered in real time through Aeromon Cloud Service.
Automated port surveillance and monitoring
From December 2025 and running for three months, a DJI Dock 2 ‘drone-in-a-box’ and DJI M3DT will carry out automated BVLOS patrols across the port estate for three months. Flights will be remotely piloted from Skyports’ ROC in Buckinghamshire.
Offshore drone delivery to moving vessels
Operating from Predannack Airfield, Cornwall, the Skyways V2 will conduct ship-to-shore deliveries in November 2025, demonstrating low-emission logistics support for offshore operations.
Long-range maritime surveillance
Starting January 2026 and running for one month, Skyports and the MCA will run long-endurance surveillance missions over the Straits of Dover from Lydd airfield using the Quantum Systems Vector, incorporating satcom-enabled BVLOS capability to support inspection and border control operations.
Alex Brown, CEO, Skyports Drone Services, says: “The shipping sector needs to decarbonise and embrace smarter solutions like drones and artificial intelligence. Shipping-related emissions are projected to reach 17 per cent 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.”
Building on earlier trials
BlueWater 2 builds on the early 2025 BlueWater 1 programme, which trialled drones for real-time monitoring to support safer, more efficient port operations. As part of UK SHORE’s broader strategy, the project forms one of many initiatives across the UK demonstrating new clean-maritime technologies, vessel types and port infrastructure.
The UK SHORE programme has committed more than £230m since 2022 to decarbonise the maritime sector, driving technology development and supporting regional growth. Innovate UK leads delivery of the programme, including the CMDC and ZEVI competitions.
Bryce Allcorn, chief operating officer, Consortiq, comments:”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, says: “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.”
The UK SHORE programme consists of multiple headline projects situated all across the UK from Belfast and Orkney to Cornwall and Portsmouth and all points in between – showcasing the highly-skilled work being delivered throughout the UK economy. UK SHORE is supporting 500 organisations, unlocking investment potential in UK technologies, at UK ports and at UK shipyards.
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