Port of Klaipėda examines 140 ships for quality of exhaust gases using drones

The Port of Klaipėda on Friday (6 October) said it successfully monitored the Baltic Sea coast of Lithuania and the waters of the port with 140 ships examined for the quality of exhaust gases during a three-month drone mission. 

The unmanned drones were assigned to carry out surveillance of the waters of Klaipėda port and the movement of ships, to measure the amount of sulphur in the exhaust gases of ships and to record cases of water pollution.

The drones were equipped with a variety of equipment – a sensor for the amount of sulphur in exhaust gas, a range finder, GPS coordinate locator, as well as usual and infrared cameras that detect oil stains in water during the day and night. The footage captured by the drone cameras was recorded and broadcasted live to the inspectors involved in the project.

The drones flew five days a week in the port of Klaipėda and in the Baltic Sea looking for possible violations of environmental protection. Flying at the harbour gates, the drone studied exhaust gases of every ship entering the harbour. The drone’s sensor was able to determine the percentage of sulphur in the ship’s fuel.

Algis Latakas, director general of the Klaipėda State Seaport Directorate, said: “While participating in this project and having the opportunity to use modern tools, we evaluated ship emissions and the impact of loading processes on the environment. During the project, the harbour water area was directly monitored by drone.”

“The available results of the observations made during the mission will allow us to make the most effective decisions on how to prevent possible violations, should they occur. Our priority goal is to make the port as environmentally friendly as possible. When implementing the concept of a green port, we have planned environmental protection measures, that will help to go in the direction of ‘greening’.”

Chief specialist of the Marine Environmental Protection Inspection Gintarė Šešplaukė, said: “In Lithuania, the implementation of international and national agreements on ships is controlled by the Marine Environmental Protection Inspection.”

“We are glad that with the help of modern technology we were able to check the sulphur content of the fuel of every ship entering the port, 140 ships were checked, seven exceedances were recorded by drone – after conducting inspections on two ships, the exceedances were not confirmed. The possible violations of the other 5 ships were recorded after leaving the port, therefore, the administrations of the flag states were informed in order to initiate inspections.”

Photo credit: Port of Klaipėda
Published: 11 October, 2023