Drones Take Flight for Clean Water and Faster Deliveries

Skyports Bets on Two Very Different—But Equally Disruptive—Projects

Skyports Drone Services just unveiled a pair of ambitious projects that couldn’t seem more different at first glance: one tackles water pollution in the UK, while the other slashes delivery times across the Great Lakes. But both hinge on the same disruptive tech—drones—and the same bet: that uncrewed aircraft can solve stubborn logistics and environmental challenges faster and cheaper than traditional methods.

“Michigan’s maritime drone trial isn’t just about replacing boats—it’s about proving drones can cut costs, emissions, and wait times for critical shipments,” says a Skyports spokesperson.

The Michigan trial, running May 7–27, 2025, will deploy Speedbird DLV-2 drones (payload: 8.8 lb) to shuttle light cargo like oil samples and mail between shore and ships. Partnering with the Michigan DOT, OFME, and Newlab, Skyports aims to validate the operational and economic case for maritime drone deliveries. Future phases could expand to medical supplies or emergency gear. Notably, this isn’t Skyports’ first rodeo: the company ran similar trials in Singapore’s harbor in 2021, but the Great Lakes effort marks its U.S. maritime debut.

From Ship to Shore—and Lab to Cloud

Meanwhile, across the Atlantic, Skyports’ UK project—dubbed Smart Skies, Healthy Waters—takes a radically different approach. Funded by Ofwat’s Innovation Fund, the initiative teams with Northumbrian Water, Makutu, Newcastle University, and Proteus Instruments to monitor coastal water quality via drones equipped with real-time sensors. Traditional methods require manual sampling and lab delays; here, analytics flow near-instantly, with public data shared openly. The goal? Catch pollution spikes before they become crises.

“Ofwat’s winners this year aren’t just iterating—they’re reimagining how water systems work,” notes an Ofwat judge. “The best ideas, like Skyports’, think globally from day one.”

Both projects underscore drones’ versatility. In Michigan, the focus is speed and cost—drones could trim delivery times from hours to minutes. In the UK, it’s about data velocity and transparency. And while the Great Lakes trial targets commercial logistics, the UK effort leans into public-good environmental tech. Yet Skyports sees a common thread: “Whether it’s delivering packages or pollution alerts, drones bridge gaps that ground or sea transport can’t,” says the spokesperson. Next stop? Scaling both models—and likely, more U.S. expansion.