Hamburg Port Authority



On January 16, 2025, a groundbreaking drone flight was conducted from Hamburg along the Lower Elbe to the island of Neuwerk. This test flight was part of a collaboration between the Hamburg Police and the Hamburg Port Authority (HPA), which has been in place since early 2023. The partnership aims to integrate drone-based technologies into areas such as security, disaster and flood protection, as well as port and infrastructure management.

The flight utilized the "ZERC" drone system, a vertical take-off and landing (VTOL) drone developed by Globe UAV GmbH. The same manufacturer’s "Ground Station" control center was used to operate the drone. The test flight aimed to explore and evaluate specific operational procedures to determine how the system could complement and potentially replace existing helicopter patrols along the Elbe and other large-scale aerial surveillance operations in the future.

Jens Meier, CEO of the Hamburg Port Authority, highlighted the significance of the project:
"By using drones, flights previously conducted by helicopter can be carried out not only more economically but also more environmentally friendly."

Hamburg Police Chief Falk Schnabel added:
"Drone flights beyond the visual line of sight of the pilot have the potential to become a new, resource-efficient, and environmentally friendly enhancement to our capabilities."

This successful test flight represents a significant step forward in the application of drone technology for police and infrastructure-related tasks in Hamburg and beyond.

Previous Publications:

EMERGENCY:LIVE

Transport with drones of medical samples: Lufthansa partners the Medfly project

Feb. 21 2020

Commercial UAV News

German Research Project, Medifly, Tests Long-Range Urban Medical Drone Delivery Flights

May 08 2020

Commercial UAV News

Flynex Performs BVLOS Flights to Inspect Power Lines for MITNETZ STROM

May 14 2020

Hamburg News

Awards for Hamburg's mobility projects

June 04 2020

Hamburg News

Waterborne and airborne drones now in Hamburg - EU's model region

Nov.19 2020