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Skyports claims its operation, set up with Royal Mail and Scottish airline Loganair, will “revolutionise connectivity, access and safety throughout the rural island region”.
The London-based firm, which claims to be a global leader in drone logistics, surveys and monitoring, said its Orkney I-Port project also has Orkney Islands Council Harbour Authority as a partner.
The firm also ran a smaller scale trial with school meal deliveries in Scotland, seen in the footage below from Skyports.
It is claimed the service, which is set to launch in weeks, will “provide considerable benefits including time, cost and emission savings and improved connectivity for island residents”.
The firm said: “Benefitting from Skyports Drone Services’ extensive experience in the operation of highly automated cargo drones, the project will deliver two new capabilities: daily inter-port delivery of Royal Mail items and the demonstration of shore-to-ship deliveries.
“The I-Port project is significant as it represents the first UK drone delivery project which can be conducted on a permanent basis under existing regulatory frameworks, a milestone made possible due to the unique landscape of Orkney.
“Orkney’s island geography and harsh weather impact the ability to provide an uninterrupted delivery service.
READ MORE: Plans for drones hub will see deliveries to islands
“Postal deliveries arrive from mainland Scotland to Kirkwall Airport via the Loganair RMA Orkney Flyer, where they are delivered to residents on Orkney’s main island, Mainland, or transported to one of the 19 other inhabited islands via ferry or small passenger plane.
“Pauses in the ferry schedule are common during poor weather due to the challenges of docking safely.”
Post will be delivered by ground transportation from Kirkwall to a Stromness hub and transported by drone to Royal Mail sites on Graemsay and the North of Hoy, from where postal workers will carry out their usual island delivery routes.
Alex Brown, director at Skyports, said: “Rural and maritime logistics are contingent on access, weather and personnel; if one of these factors is compromised, so too is the ability to provide a safe and reliable service.”
READ MORE: Drones to transport medical supplies
He added: “We’re looking forward to showcasing how our flights can improve existing services on the island, improve connectivity for residents and support the work of Orkney’s postal staff.”
Chris Paxton, head of drone trials at Royal Mail, said: “Using a fully electric drone on a permanent basis supports Royal Mail’s continued drive to reduce emissions associated with our operations, whilst connecting the island communities we deliver to.”
David Dawson, Orkney development committee chair, said: “The possibility of drone deliveries from shore to ship in particular, could add an extra dimension to the services provided by our marine services team, vital as we look to position ourselves as innovators within the marine and harbour operations sphere.”
The I-Port project is funded by the Department for Transport’s Freight Innovation Fund and executed by the Connected Places Catapult.
Nicola Yates, of Connected Places Catapult, said: “Working with innovators and industry partners through our accelerator programme allows us to develop a pipeline of technology and new ideas that promise to help tackle the freight sector’s emerging needs, ensuring that resilience, efficiency and carbon reduction are core to the sector’s future.”
Skyports Drone Services has projects operating in Asia, North America, South America, and Europe.
