AMPU Introduces Drone Technologies to Enhance Port Safety and Engineering Monitoring

Ukrainian Sea Ports Authority (AMPU) has completed its first procurement of unmanned systems for its regional branches, marking an important step toward technological modernization of port infrastructure under wartime conditions. The acquisition includes a remotely operated underwater vehicle (ROV) for the diving service of the “Delta-Pilot” branch and an aerial drone for the “Chornomorniproekt” branch.

The underwater ROV is designed for inspections of berths, hydraulic structures, the underwater hulls of vessels, and port water areas. The system transmits real-time video and photographic data, enabling a significant share of inspection and diagnostic tasks to be carried out without deploying divers in hazardous environments, including during emergency response operations. This was reported by the Ministry for Communities and Territories Development of Ukraine.

The aerial drone assigned to “Chornomorniproekt” is used for engineering surveys of ports and hydraulic infrastructure. Its functions include photo and video documentation of the technical condition of facilities, monitoring of port territories, and collection of spatial data for subsequent engineering analysis and planning of maintenance and reconstruction works.

According to Deputy Minister for Communities and Territories Development of Ukraine Andrii Kashuba, the use of drones allows engineering tasks to be performed more quickly and accurately while significantly reducing risks to personnel—an especially critical factor given constant threats of shelling and mine contamination affecting port infrastructure.

Commentary by the Institute of Danube Research

The deployment of unmanned aerial and underwater systems by AMPU represents a structural shift toward risk-aware and data-driven management of port infrastructure. In the context of ongoing security threats, drone technologies provide a means to sustain operational continuity while safeguarding human resources.

From an institutional perspective, these solutions enhance the quality and frequency of technical monitoring, enable evidence-based prioritization of repair and recovery works, and support the accumulation of standardized datasets for long-term infrastructure planning. For Danube and Black Sea ports in particular, such technologies are consistent with European practices in smart port management and should be further integrated with GIS platforms, digital asset registers, and predictive maintenance models.