Autonomous drone operations for ports and industrial terminals
Ports are among the most demanding environments for autonomous drone operations. Dense infrastructure, active airspace, large-scale industrial facilities, and continuous commercial traffic create conditions that require a certified, experienced operator; not a demonstration programme.
Avy conducts weekly VTOL drone missions across the Port of Rotterdam, Port of Amsterdam, and Port of Antwerp. These are recurring operational flights generating data that directly informs commercial and safety decisions for port operators and industrial clients.
What we do in ports
Aerial drone surveys and stockpile assessment
Avy carries out aerial drone surveys for raw material quantity assessment at port and terminal facilities. Using thermal and RGB payloads, the Avy Aera captures precise imagery of stockpiles and storage infrastructure, allowing stakeholders to verify volumes, identify discrepancies, and reduce reliance on manual checks in hazardous or restricted areas.
Surveys can be conducted on a scheduled basis; weekly, fortnightly, or on-demand, generating consistent data sets that improve accuracy over time and integrate directly into client reporting workflows.
Infrastructure and hazard detection
Avy has demonstrated the capability to detect operational hazards across large-scale port and rail infrastructure using autonomous drone flights. In a programme conducted with ProRail, the Dutch national rail infrastructure operator, Avy flights identified safety-critical hazards including incorrectly parked vehicles and faulty fire safety equipment anomalies that are difficult to detect consistently through ground-based inspection at the scale of a modern port or rail network.
The system's ability to cover large areas rapidly, repeat flights to a consistent flight path, and flag anomalies against a known baseline makes it well-suited to routine infrastructure compliance and safety checks.
Ports present specific constraints that define what a capable operator must demonstrate before conducting regular missions.
BVLOS authorisation
Avy holds a BVLOS LUC (Light UAS Operator Certificate) in the Netherlands, authorising flights beyond visual line of sight.Avy manages this as standard procedure.
Weather reliability
The Avy Aera operates in winds above 30 knots and in rain. Maritime weather conditions at port facilities ground conventional drones regularly. Avy missions run to schedule.
Drone-in-a-box deployment
The Avy docking station enables fully autonomous launch, landing, and recharging without an on-site operator. Eliminating mobilisation costs and enabling missions to be triggered remotely.
Payload flexibility
Depending on mission requirements, the Aera is configured with RGB cameras, thermal sensors, or multispectral payloads for drone photogrammetry and survey applications.
Remote operations
Flights can be managed from Avy's operations centre, not necessarily from a field position within the port.
The aircraft: Aera
The Avy Aera is a VTOL drone; it takes off and lands vertically from a docking station, rooftop, or ground pad, then transitions to fixed-wing allowing it to fly 5-10 times further than regular drones. The system enables deployment from within port facilities without dedicated infrastructure.
100 km/h
Cruise speed
100 km
Range per charge
3 kg
Payload capacity
30+ knots
Wind tolerance
Why ports choose Avy
Conventional drone operations in port environments face consistent constraints: limited range, requirement for on-site pilots, poor weather performance, and inability to operate in controlled airspace without specific authorisation. These constraints mean most drone programmes remain periodic demonstrations rather than recurring operational systems.
Avy's combination of BVLOS authorisation, long-range VTOL aircraft, autonomous drone-in-a-box infrastructure, and active programmes
across three of Europe's largest ports means it is capable of delivering scheduled, data-generating missions without the overhead of conventional drone deployment.
For port operators evaluating autonomous drone systems, the relevant question is; "can I fly consistently, safely, and to a data standard that integrates into operational workflows" with Avy you can. Avy's weekly programmes across Rotterdam, Amsterdam, and Antwerp show that.
Avy works with port authorities, terminal operators, and industrial clients across Europe to design drone programmes for survey, inspection, and situational awareness. Contact us to discuss your requirements.