The maritime port industry is asking federal regulators to impose stricter control over the access of drones to enter their airspace over port facilities, according to the American Association of Port Authorities (AAPA).
In a letter to regulators, AAPA President & CEO, Sang Yi said: “The consequences of unauthorized drone activity at a port may extend far beyond the immediate facility and impact broader economic resilience, defense readiness, and homeland security objectives. Given the sensitivity of their operations and proximity to large population centers, ports represent some of the most mature and security-conscious critical infrastructure operators in the nation.”
Specifically, the group submitted its comments to the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) Office of Rulemaking in response to a Notice of Proposed Rulemaking (NPRM) on the designation of unmanned aircraft flight restrictions (UAFRs) around eligible fixed site facilities, including ports.
The AAPA said that while it commends FAA for its proposed rules, the port industry strongly encourages the Federal Government to build off this rulemaking that covers flight restrictions of civilian drones and also expand detection and mitigation authorities against other malicious and foreign actors.
“Ports routinely handle hazardous materials, military cargo, cruise passengers, energy products, chemical shipments, and essential consumer goods that are vital to national economic and homeland security,” Yi said in the letter. “Unauthorized drone activity in the vicinity of any of these facilities raises safety, surveillance, and operational concerns. Moreover, the threat posed by attack drones is particularly acute in the cruise sector, where a single vessel may carry several thousand passengers and crew.”
