New sulfur sniffing “nose in the sky” patrols Danish waters

Image: Danish Maritime Authority

Demonstrating that authorities are taking enforcement of IMO 2020 seriously, a new sulfur sniffing drone has started checking the emissions from ships operating in Danish waters. Provided by the European Maritime Safety Agency, the drone will operate in a specific area north of the Great Belt strait.

This marks the second time EMSA has tested a sulfur-sniffing drone over Denmark. Last year, a different model drone patrolled in the area for three months. The new drone has previously been used for various surveillance tasks.

By flying into the ship’s exhaust gas plume, the drone can use its “sniffer technology” to register the sulfur content in the ship’s fuel. These data are immediately available to the Danish Environmental Protection Agency, which can then follow up if a ship is emitting too much sulfur.

Several Danish authorities have cooperated to get the drone from EMSA in action above Danish waters. The test project is being carried out in a collaboration between the Ministry of Environment and Food of Denmark, the Danish Environmental Protection Agency and the Danish Maritime Authority.

The drone began operations over Denmark from July 1 and will remain in the area through October 31.