Starting from February 2017 FSUE “Rosmorport” has been performing a cycle of tests and operations with the use of unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) under the conditions of real icebreaker supports of the vessels in the White Sea waters.

Tests flights of the “Geoscan-401” Complex are performed from a new 21900М project icebreaker board “Novorossiysk” that was put into operation in December 2016.

Every day UAV of the quadrotor type performs flights from the ship's helideck to conduct reconnaissance of the ice situation under control of an experienced systems operator pilot.

In future other unmanned aerial vehicles of the helicopter type as well of the convertiplane type with the advanced technical characteristics and specifically designed useful load equipment that can significantly increase ice observation efficiency are expected to be tested.

The main purpose of the tests is to check the efficiency of the UAV application during ice observation and sea search and rescue operations with the involvement of the FSUE “Rosmorport” icebreakers. Tests flights also allow estimating the possibility to monitor water area pollution.

Upon completion of the tests FSUE “Rosmorport” specialists together with the invited experts will carry out the analysis of the data received and prepare suggestions and requirements for the use of the unmanned aerial vehicles in the icebreakers and other organization's vessels. 

2017 UAV tests comprise a logical continuation of the FSUE “Rosmorport” researches of the years of 2008 and 2013, however, at the new technical level.