drones Article The Conceptualization of an Unmanned Aerial System (UAS) Ship–Shore Delivery Service for the Maritime Industry of Trinidad Noel Sookram *, Deanesh Ramsewak and Sukhjit Singh   Citation: Sookram, N.; Ramsewak, D.; Singh, S. The Conceptualization of an Unmanned Aerial System (UAS) Ship–Shore Delivery Service for the Maritime Industry of Trinidad. Drones 2021, 5, 76. https://doi.org/ 10.3390/drones5030076 Academic Editors: Diego González-Aguilera and Pablo Rodriguez-Gonzalvez Received: 3 July 2021 Accepted: 2 August 2021 Published: 6 August 2021 Publisher’s Note: MDPI stays neutral with regard to jurisdictional claims in published maps and institutional affil- iations. Copyright: © 2021 by the authors. Licensee MDPI, Basel, Switzerland. This article is an open access article distributed under the terms and conditions of the Creative Commons Attribution (CC BY) license (https:// creativecommons.org/licenses/by/ 4.0/). Centre for Maritime and Ocean Studies, The University of Trinidad and Tobago, Chaguaramas Campus, 962-968 Western Main Road, Chaguaramas, CARENAGE 110804, Trinidad and Tobago; deanesh.ramsewak@utt.edu.tt (D.R.); sukhjit.singh@utt.edu.tt (S.S.) * Correspondence: sookramnoel@gmail.com Abstract: Human risk has further increased within the global maritime industry because of the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) pandemic. It also impacted the economic activity within the Caribbean islands, including its ship–shore delivery sector. Traditionally, this service includes human interface presenting safety and health hazards, and vessels employed operate on fossil fuels, releasing emissions that contribute to harmful GHG and air pollution. Opportunities have arisen for local maritime companies to introduce innovative strategies within the industry to rectify these challenges. Implementing unmanned aerial system (UAS) technology can reduce operational costs, human risk, environmental impact, and delivery time. This study assessed the feasibility of a UAS ship–shore delivery service to optimize near-harbor deliveries within six major ports of Trinidad. Data was gathered through field observations, a literature survey, questionnaires, and interviews with relevant stakeholders. Based on the above approach, the needs of the local ship–shore delivery sector were identified and categorized. An appropriate UAS which addressed these needs while maintaining the economic, environmental, and human safety requirements was then identified. Recommendations for overcoming the local implementation and operational challenges that were encountered are presented. This study may serve as a reference for conceptualizing a UAS ship–shore delivery service and offers resolutions for similar implementation challenges. Keywords: drones; unmanned aerial system (UAS); ship–shore delivery; maritime; Trinidad; sustain- able development (SD); optimization solutions 1. Introduction An unmanned aerial system (UAS) refers to an unmanned aircraft vehicle (UAV), a control station, and a data link [1]. UAS platforms typically fall into one of the following categories: fixed-wing, multirotor, fixed-wing hybrid, blimps, or flapping-wing UAVs. This report refers to a UAS as a system that incorporates a multi-rotor drone. Technological advancements have increased the capabilities of these systems, creating the potential for the extensive use of UASs in everyday endeavors. One of the many critical supply chains of the global maritime industry is the ship– shore delivery sector. This sector facilitates seagoing vessels at anchorage, providing vital supplies such as spares, stores, samples, documents, medical and emergency supplies [2]. Ship–shore delivery providers, have utilized traditional delivery methods for several years, primarily involving transportation by small high-speed boats. The pandemic has exposed many vulnerabilities within the ship–shore delivery sector, increasing safety and health risks. A drastic reduction occurred in maritime business activities globally due to precau- tionary measures to prevent the proliferation of the pandemic [3]. Although the Caribbean region escaped the high mortality rates seen in many other areas around the globe, it is un- dergoing the adverse effects of the global economic fallout [4]. Like many other Caribbean Drones 2021, 5, 76. https://doi.org/10.3390/drones5030076 https://www.mdpi.com/journal/drones