Drone Detection for Ports

New drone detection feature: monitor drones and maritime vessels in one platform

Drones are changing the security picture for ports worldwide. They are easy to operate, difficult to spot, and can quickly approach sensitive areas around terminals, warehouses and ship traffic lanes.

In Denmark, a series of drone incidents recently forced authorities to shut down major airports and strengthen monitoring efforts. Ports are also considered critical infrastructure, so they came under the same pressure to document how they monitor any unwanted drone activity inside their safety zones.

Many ports asked the same question:
How do we keep a clear overview of both vessel traffic and drones, without adding yet another separate system to the control room?

One common picture: vessels and drones side by side

At Gatehouse Maritime, we have now added a new, groundbreaking feature to our Maritime Domain Monitor platform.

You can track drones, locate the drone pilot, and visualize them alongside maritime vessel traffic in one shared operating picture.

To make this possible, we have partnered with Danish company AirPlate, which specialises in drone tracking equipment. AirPlate sets up and operates the physical hardware in, for example, major ports or airports. This hardware identifies drones flying in the vicinity and delivers a continuous data feed.

“For AirPlate, it is a significant step that our drone detection data can be visualized alongside other critical information sources. Seeing our insights integrated directly into Gatehouse Maritime’s platform strengthens the value we deliver to ports and critical infrastructure operators.” says August Mader, CEO and Co-Founder of AirPlate

In close cooperation with AirPlate, Gatehouse Maritime have integrated this data feed directly into our platform. This means that operators can now:

• Detect and track drones and locate drone pilots in and around the port area
• View drone tracks in the same interface as vessel movements
• Set up safety zones and alerts for both maritime and aerial activity
• Replay drone incidents from the past – used as evidence or
• Coordinate response across teams using one common picture

The result is a more efficient and reliable way to secure critical infrastructure, with less system complexity for the people on duty.

Kim Bøjlund, Gatehouse Maritime’s Product Manager adds “Working with AirPlate has been a great example of how we can bring new capabilities into Maritime Domain Monitor quickly and effectively. Their drone detection data adds real value, and the integration showcases the strength of our platform in unifying diverse data sources into one operational overview.”

Port of Aarhus – first mover on drone and vessel monitoring in one system

The Port of Aarhus in Denmark is the first customer to implement the new drone detection feature.

The Port wanted to strengthen its ability to monitor and respond to unwanted drone traffic inside its safety perimeter, while also maintaining a strong focus on safe and efficient vessel operations.

With the combined solution from AirPlate and Gatehouse Maritime, Port of Aarhus can now:

• Detect drones entering the port’s airspace and locate the drone pilot
• Monitor how drone activity relates to ongoing vessel traffic
• Set up an event detection alerting you when a drone enters the area of interest.
• Support security and operational decisions based on a single, up to date overview

As an added benefit, both security staff and operations teams work in the same platform. This supports faster communication, clearer responsibilities and better coordination when incidents occur.

Want to explore what this could mean for your port?

We are ready to share the lessons learned from the first deployments and to discuss how drone monitoring could be integrated into your existing Maritime Domain Monitor setup.

If you want to learn more or see a live demonstration, please contact our Product Manager Kim Bøjlund. He will be happy to present the solution in more detail and walk you through the experiences from Port of Aarhus and other early adopters.