PASSport · Project

Drone Fleet Platform That Watches Over Ports for Safety and Security

transportPilotedTRL 7

h2020-passport.eu

Imagine a port — huge, sprawling, with ships coming and going, fuel depots, underwater infrastructure, and thousands of people working daily. Keeping an eye on all of that with fixed cameras and patrol boats leaves massive blind spots. PASSport built a system where a coordinated fleet of flying and underwater drones, guided by ultra-precise satellite positioning, automatically patrols the entire port area — spotting pollution spills, protecting critical buildings, and tracking suspicious small boats approaching from the sea. Think of it as a security guard team that never sleeps, sees everywhere at once, and reports back to one central screen.

By the numbers

~1000

European ports falling under EU port security directive 2005/65/CE

consortium partners across the project

countries represented in the consortium

SMEs in the consortium

total deliverables produced

demo deliverables (RPA units and Ground Segment)

The business problem

What needed solving

Ports are massive, complex environments where fixed surveillance cameras and manual patrols leave dangerous blind spots — above water, underwater, and around critical infrastructure. EU directive 2005/65/CE requires comprehensive port security, but covering an entire port area with traditional methods is expensive, labour-intensive, and still leaves gaps. Port authorities need automated, wide-area monitoring that handles pollution, navigation safety, infrastructure protection, and threat detection simultaneously.

The solution

What was built

The project built a complete operational platform for managing a fleet of semi-autonomous drones — both aerial (fixed-wing and rotary) and underwater — using high-accuracy Galileo satellite positioning. Concrete deliverables include complete RPA (drone) units and a ground segment control station, along with 28 total deliverables covering the full system.

Audience

Who needs this

Port authorities managing commercial harbours under EU security directive 2005/65/CEMaritime border control and coast guard agenciesEnvironmental compliance firms monitoring port pollutionPort infrastructure operators responsible for critical building protectionMaritime logistics companies needing e-navigation support

Business applications

Who can put this to work

Port Operations & Maritime Logistics

enterprise

Target: Port authorities and harbour management companies

If you are a port authority responsible for securing a large commercial port — this project developed an integrated drone surveillance platform with both aerial and underwater units that extends your monitoring perimeter beyond what fixed cameras can cover. With around 1000 European ports falling under the EU port security directive, this system was designed to complement your existing surveillance infrastructure and automate routine patrol operations.

Maritime Security & Border Control

enterprise

Target: Coast guard agencies and maritime border protection services

If you are a border control authority dealing with non-cooperative small craft approaching port areas — this project built a drone fleet management system that uses Galileo satellite authentication for precise, tamper-proof positioning to track and monitor threats. The platform handles both above-water and underwater threat detection from a single ground segment control station, reducing the need for manned patrol vessels.

Environmental Monitoring & Compliance

mid-size

Target: Environmental compliance firms and port pollution monitoring services

If you are an environmental services company monitoring pollution in busy port areas — this project delivered drone units equipped with sensors that can survey water and air quality across the port zone on automated flight paths. The system was specifically designed for pollution monitoring as one of its core safety use cases, helping you meet regulatory requirements without deploying costly manned sampling teams.

Frequently asked

Quick answers

What would it cost to deploy this drone system in our port?

The project data does not include specific pricing or per-unit costs. As an Innovation Action with 16 consortium partners including 5 SMEs, deployment costs would depend on port size and the number of drone units required. Contact the coordinator SISTEMATICA SPA for commercial terms.

Can this scale to cover a large commercial port?

The system was designed with scalability in mind — the objective specifically references around 1000 European ports that fall under the EU port security directive 2005/65/CE. The platform manages a fleet of multiple drones (both aerial fixed/rotary wing and underwater), controlled from a single ground segment, which allows coverage to scale with fleet size.

What is the IP situation — can we license this technology?

As a closed Innovation Action funded by the EU, IP typically remains with the consortium partners. SISTEMATICA SPA (Italy, SME) coordinated the project. Licensing or commercial partnerships would need to be negotiated directly with the relevant consortium members who developed specific components.

Does this comply with current drone regulations?

Drone regulations were explicitly listed as a project keyword and concern. The system uses EGNSS (European GNSS/Galileo) for authenticated, high-accuracy positioning, which is designed to meet European aviation and maritime regulatory requirements for drone operations in controlled airspace near ports.

How mature is this technology — is it ready for real operations?

The project was an Innovation Action (the EU's highest pre-market funding type) that ran for 3 years and delivered demo units including complete RPA (drone) units and a ground segment. With 56% industry partners in the consortium and 5 SMEs involved, this was built for operational deployment, not just research.

Can this integrate with our existing port surveillance systems?

Yes — the objective explicitly states the solution is intended to complement already operational platforms by extending the surveillance perimeter. The ground segment was designed as an integration layer that adds drone-based awareness to your existing camera and radar infrastructure.

What kind of ongoing support is available?

The coordinator SISTEMATICA SPA is an Italian SME specializing in systems engineering. With 9 industry partners across 7 countries in the consortium, there is a distributed support base across Europe. The project website h2020-passport.eu may have current contact details.

Consortium

Who built it

The PASSport consortium is strongly industry-oriented with 9 out of 16 partners (56%) from the private sector, including 5 SMEs. Led by SISTEMATICA SPA, an Italian SME, the project spans 7 countries (Belgium, Germany, Spain, France, Croatia, Italy, Poland) giving it broad European coverage for port deployments. The mix of 2 universities and 3 research organizations provided the technical foundation, while the industry-heavy composition — including port authorities and border control agencies as active parties — signals this was built for real-world adoption, not just academic exploration. For a business buyer, this means the technology was shaped by actual end-users from day one.

SISTEMATICA SPACoordinator · IT
TOPVIEW SRLparticipant · IT
DEEP BLUE SRLparticipant · IT
UNIVERSITA DEGLI STUDI DI FIRENZEparticipant · IT
DEUTSCHES ZENTRUM FUR LUFT - UND RAUMFAHRT EVparticipant · DE
FUNDACION DE LA COMUNIDAD VALENCIANA PARA LA INVESTIGACION, PROMOCION Y ESTUDIOS COMERCIALES DE VALENCIAPORTparticipant · ES
FUNDACIO EURECATparticipant · ES
M3 SYSTEMS BELGIUMparticipant · BE
CENTRE D ETUDES ET D EXPERTISE SUR LES RISQUES L ENVIRONNEMENT LA MOBILITE ET L AMENAGEMENTparticipant · FR
POLITECHNIKA MORSKA W SZCZECINIEparticipant · PL
GMV AEROSPACE AND DEFENCE SAparticipant · ES

How to reach the team

SISTEMATICA SPA is an Italian SME that coordinated the project. Contact them through the project website or via SciTransfer for a facilitated introduction.

Order a report on this consortium See SISTEMATICA SPA profile →

Next steps

Talk to the team behind this work.

Want to explore how PASSport's drone fleet technology could work in your port? SciTransfer can connect you directly with the right consortium partner for your needs.

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