SkeyDrone and Unifly Deploy Major UTM Platform Upgrade at the Port of Antwerp-Bruges, Enhancing Safety and User Experience

SkeyDrone and Unifly have released a major upgrade of their UAS Traffic Management (UTM) platform deployed at the Port of Antwerp-Bruges (PoAB). This new release strengthens operational safety and enhances user experience, further enabling one of the world’s most advanced port-based drone ecosystems.

Building on the strong innovation partnership between SkeyDrone, Unifly, and the Port of Antwerp-Bruges, the upgraded platform enhances capabilities for drone operators, supervisors, and port authorities. It continues the Port’s evolution from pioneering BVLOS trials under the SAFIR project to enabling thousands of drone operations, autonomous sample transport, and scalable industrial drone applications across one of the most drone-progressive ports globally.

PoAB DronePortal

Operational in the Antwerp port area since mid-March 2021, the PoAB DronePortal has enabled safe and compliant drone operations at scale.

Port of Antwerp-Bruges’ drone ecosystem at a glance:

• 250 registered operators
• 13,483 operations created
• 7,665 operations performed
• 27,621 permission requests approved
• 2,371 BVLOS operations performed

Overview of the New Capabilities

The update introduces a broad set of new capabilities that enhance safety, useability, and efficiency across the Port of Antwerp-Bruges’ drone ecosystem. Improved airspace information, supported by updated obstacle data, increases situational awareness to support safer drone operations in one of Europe’s busiest and most complex port environments.

A series of user interface and data-management upgrades make the platform more intuitive and reliable, including clearer geozone visualisation, refreshed map layers, more helpful on-screen guidance, simplified explanations of flight rules, updated translations, and cleaner portal visuals. Users also benefit from a rebranded and expanded online help environment offering clearer, always-available guidance, as well as the introduction of Dark Mode for improved usability in a wide range of operational and lighting conditions.

A Platform Ready for the Next Stage of Port-Based Drone Innovation

This release marks another milestone in the Port of Antwerp-Bruges’ digital transformation of its airspace. By enhancing safety, improving situational awareness, and streamlining the operator experience, the UTM platform continues to support innovative drone applications, from industrial inspections to automated logistics, reinforcing PoAB’s position as one of the world’s most advanced ports for operational drone deployment.

To underline Unifly’s long-term commitment to enabling scalable and secure drone operations, Andres Van Swalm, CEO of Unifly, highlighted the significance of the upgrade: “With every release, we help the Port of Antwerp-Bruges unlock new operational efficiencies and safety standards. This upgrade prepares the Port for an increasingly automated future where drones integrate seamlessly into daily operations.”

Stijn De Vleeschhouwer, Managing Director of SkeyDrone, emphasised the value of these improvements for daily users and operational partners across the port: “With this new UTM upgrade, we are raising the bar once again. Users will benefit from a more reliable, intuitive, and efficient system that supports safe and consistent drone operations throughout the port.”

Reflecting on the Port’s ambitions, Didier Venneman, Coordinator Drone Operations at PoAB, emphasises the strategic importance of a future-ready UTM platform in supporting the growth of drone operations: “This upgrade reinforces our leadership in port-based drone innovation. By developing a more user-friendly application, the enhanced platform enables drone operators to plan and monitor missions more intuitively, improving safety and security across the port. It encourages new operators to adopt the system, ensuring compliance with regulations and increasing awareness of potential risks in a complex port environment.”