Skyports Drone Services (Skyports), the global leader in drone logistics, surveys, and monitoring, has today announced a strategic partnership with the Port Authority of New York and New Jersey (PANYNJ) to explore the feasibility of middle-mile drone logistics in the New York and New Jersey region.
The “middle mile” refers to the segment of the supply chain between the distribution center (or warehouse) to a retail store or local fulfillment center, but not directly to the end consumer. This part of the supply chain is critical for efficiently moving large quantities of goods closer to their final destinations, thus preparing for the “last mile” delivery, which is the final step of delivering goods to customers.
Skyports, which has spearheaded the implementation of drone services across several industries in multiple countries, including medical, maritime, oil & gas, and logistics, will leverage its extensive experience to support and scale drone operations for PANYNJ. The company’s best-in-class fleet can support a wide variety of applications, including beyond visual line of sight (“BVLOS”) operations, light and heavy cargo transport, and accessing hard-to-reach locations.
Alex Brown, Director of Skyports Drone Services, said: “Our partnership with the Port Authority of New York and New Jersey is a pivotal step for maritime and logistics focused drone operations in the US.
“The Port Authority, with its extensive portfolio of maritime and aviation assets, including three of the busiest airports in the US, and the nation’s second-largest port by total cargo volumes, is well positioned to integrate UAS applications in a highly complex operating environment. We look forward to partnering to explore the feasibility of drone operations in the Hudson River airspace, onboarding initial customers, and producing an actionable roadmap for UAS in New York City, with a view towards launching proof-of-concept operations within the Port District.”
Seth Wainer, Innovation Program Director at Port Authority of New York and New Jersey said: “It may seem like something from the Jetsons, but if drone cargo proves viable it may be a low-carbon way to move the most valuable items between New York and New Jersey,” said Seth Wainer, the Port Authority’s program director of innovation. “We are exploring routes and starting to look for customers who may be interested in investing in this space alongside us.”
