Singapore Warns of Fines and Jail Time for Unauthorized Drone Flights from Vessels

The Maritime and Port Authority of Singapore (MPA) warned shipowners, agents and masters operating in the Port of Singapore that they must notify the port authority before launching a drone from their vessels, or risk prosecution. The warning comes alongside an alert from the Civil Aviation Authority of Singapore (CAAS) regarding the aviation safety risks posed by unauthorized unmanned aircraft operations in port waters.

According to the specialized outlet Safety4Sea, the MPA issued Port Marine Notice No. 136 of 2026, dated October 14, referring shipping companies, operators of smaller craft and users of pleasure craft to a CAAS notice from October 1. That communication covers not only drones but also radio-controlled aircraft and remote-controlled kites, and requires operators to comply with current aviation regulations before carrying out such activities over port waters.

The alert followed two incidents that occurred this year. In June, a 46-year-old crew member on a locally flagged bunker tanker operated a drone at around 140 feet (42.7 meters) altitude at the Eastern Petroleum Bravo anchorage, about three kilometers from Changi Airport, without the required permit. According to Maritime Executive, he was fined approximately US$4,000 in lieu of a 10-day jail sentence, while Safety4Sea reported the fine as SGD 5,000, with 10 days' imprisonment in default of payment. In July, a 42-year-old crew member on a foreign-flagged tanker flew a drone at 240 feet (76 meters) at the Eastern Petroleum Charlie anchorage, less than two kilometers from Changi: Maritime Executive reported a fine of US$2,300, while Safety4Sea stated it was SGD 3,000, with six days' imprisonment in default of payment.

According to Safety4Sea, both cases fell within the five-kilometer exclusion zone around Changi Airport, established under the Air Navigation Act 1966 and the Air Navigation (101 – Unmanned Aircraft Operations) Regulations 2019, which require registration and permits to operate unmanned aircraft. Violations can result in fines of up to SGD 50,000, up to two years' imprisonment, or both. Maritime Executive, for its part, noted that CAAS prohibits flights above 200 feet and within five kilometers of an airport without prior permission, with a maximum fine of up to US$39,000 or up to two years in prison.

Despite the restrictions, Maritime Executive noted that the MPA maintains a favorable stance toward commercial drone use in the port, with designated anchorage areas serving as a "testbed" for research and development of shipborne technology, as well as a formal launch area with covered space for testing—one of the few such zones sponsored by a port authority worldwide.