Drones deliver takeout to crew members on the Yangtze River

Liu Ziqi, the daughter of sailors, was recently overjoyed to receive a cake while aboard a ship docked in Yichang, Hubei province. At 12 years old, it was the first birthday cake she had ever received.

Her parents run a cargo ship traveling between Shanghai and Chongqing. They had begun bringing the child on board since she was 1 month old. "She celebrates every birthday on the Yangtze River; however, we were too busy to go ashore and buy a cake," said Liu Ge, her mother.

What makes this year different is the low-altitude instant delivery service put forward by local authorities to meet shopping needs from tens of thousands of sailors.

Liu Ge ordered a cake by phone, at which point a delivery rider took it to a drone base. From there, a pilot found the vessel via the Yangtze Beidou app. With the cake loaded in a basket, the drone lifted off and headed directly to the ship. "It's as efficient as ordering takeout ashore," Liu Ge said.

The family stayed on the ship in Yichang for three days, waiting to pass the Gezhouba Dam and Three Gorges ship locks. Previously, they had to shop at mobile "supermarket" ships where the categories of products are limited and the price is often higher than those ashore.

"We can also take public traffic ships with a fixed schedule, or pay for a small ship that costs 100 yuan ($14.8) for a round trip," she said, adding that the drone delivery service is fast, cheap, and covers more shopping choices.

Other beneficiaries include: Li Wenchuan, a 22-year-old sailor who quickly received drugs to ease a stomachache with a delivery fee of just 10 yuan; captain Fu Yibo, who replaced his ship's 2-metric-ton storage batteries via drone service without having to move them on hand and transport via traffic ships; and first mate Zhang Zhongkun, who ordered icy milk tea, fried chicken, and grilled skewers to cheer up the crew.

After months of trial operation, the low-altitude instant delivery service began in late July. Including the trials, more than 10,000 orders have been placed, with daily orders ranging from 30 to 40, according to Huang Yuhua, who is in charge of the drone comprehensive service base.

Yichang sits at the junction of the upper and middle reaches of the golden waterway of the Yangtze River and is home to the Three Gorges Dam and Gezhouba Dam.

Data from Yichang's maritime bureau shows that since March, around 700 vessels wait for lock passage on average each day at the Yangtze's Yichang section. During peak periods, the number can rise to 1,000 vessels, carrying approximately 9,000 crew members.

Each day, about 70 to 80 ships can pass the locks, which operate under chronic overload. Vessels typically wait 7 to 8 days during ordinary periods. The maximum waiting time can stretch to 15 days during maintenance and flood seasons. As sailors remain on board for a long time, it is highly inconvenient for them to purchase fresh fruits and vegetables, daily meals, and urgently needed spare parts, Huang said.

"Traditional supply methods relying on shuttle boats and supply vessels are time-consuming, and fresh produce tends to spoil easily," he added. "In addition, safety risks exist when crew members take small boats ashore to shop."

The service currently covers waters within approximately 3 kilometers. After cargo arrives at the landing site and passes inspection ahead of takeoff, the maximum flight time for the farthest delivery is 80 seconds, according to Huang.

Delivery fees are set comprehensively based on distance and weight, ranging from 10 yuan to 50 yuan. 5G-Advanced base stations are deployed along the river to ensure stable communication signals. When the drone reaches target waters, the pilot makes manual adjustments to identify the vessel name and locate the waiting crew.

Emergency medicine and critical supplies can be delivered to moving vessels. Goods can be delivered even amid light rain and snow. Deliveries are suspended when visibility drops below 200 meters, or the wind force exceeds Grade 7, according to Huang.

In the future, Huang said the base would build a complete delivery system along the Yangtze, establish an online shop, and add more take-off and landing points.

"We do not merely treat sailors as passing visitors," said Zhu Hanhong, director of Yichang's bureau of economy and information technology, adding that the delivery service extends the city's public services out onto the river.