This photo provided by Marine Drone Tech, a drone technology startup, on Feb. 28, 2021, shows the company recently conducting a maritime drone delivery test. The company is the first business in South Korea to earn a registration certificate to operate a commercial parcel delivery service using drones.
BUSAN, March 1 (Korea Bizwire) — A tech startup in the southeastern port city of Busan is drawing attention after it launched a maritime drone delivery business, a first in South Korea.
Marine Drone Tech, a specialist in drone technologies, is the first company in the country to receive a registration certificate to operate a drone-based maritime parcel delivery service from the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport, with approval for the new business coming last week.
The company recently carried out a demonstration in which drones delivered lightweight items such as smartphone SIM cards, documents, medical supplies and masks to seafarers on board ships calling at the South Port in Busan’s Yeongdo District.
(image: Marine Drone Tech)
During the tests, the maritime drones succeeded in delivering the items accurately to the destinations, with the delivery time estimated at just about five minutes, far shorter than conventional ship-based delivery, which typically takes about 40 minutes.
The Busan Regional Aviation Administration concluded that there were no safety concerns with the new service after three field investigations and technological reviews.
M. H. Lee (mhlee@koreabizwire.com)
