Brazilian logistics group Wilson Sons is testing drone deliveries to offshore vessels in Guanabara Bay, aiming to speed up routine operations and cut emissions. The company said the pilot, which began in early April from its Rio offshore support base, focuses on moving documents and small items between shore and platform supply vessels (PSVs). The tests follow an earlier rollout at the Port of Salvador and form part of a broader push to digitalise and streamline offshore support. Using unmanned aerial vehicles supplied by Speedbird Aero, the operation targets a simple but time-consuming task — getting paperwork to ships at anchor or alongside, the company said. The drones can carry loads of up to 5 kg, covering roughly 8 km between base and vessel in as little as nine minutes. For operators used to launch boats and manual handovers, that represents a clear time saving, particularly in busy offshore zones, Wilson Sons noted. The trial is being run under a proof-of-concept phase, with approvals in place from Brazil’s aviation and airspace authorities. The aim is to validate both technical performance and operational safety before any wider rollout. Rodrigo Lopes, operations manager at Wilson Sons’ shipping agency, said the move is about improving both efficiency and safety. “The use of drones for deliveries by Wilson Sons is a milestone in the port and logistics sector, as it makes operations even safer and more efficient, contributing, through innovation and the adoption of new technologies, to the decarbonisation of the offshore energy industry and the sustainable development of Brazil,” he noted. The drones are being used primarily for document transfer, but the model could be expanded to other lightweight items if the trials prove successful. Edwardo Valverde, general manager of operations for the company’s offshore support bases, said the technology fits a broader shift in the sector. “This technology elevates the efficiency of offshore operations and contributes directly to sustainability goals, strengthening our performance in supporting the reduction of greenhouse gas emissions of our partners,” he explained. Drone logistics has already seen wider use in offshore hubs such as Singapore, where repeated flights have demonstrated reliability in controlled environments. The Guanabara Bay trial will test how the concept performs in a different setting, with local weather, traffic and regulatory conditions. googletag.cmd.push(function() { googletag.display('div-gpt-ad-1_95_0_1_2'); }); TagsBrazil