It seems drone manufacturing company DJI’s small cargo drones are enjoying a great time delivering packages to ship crews working on the Yangtze River – while the ships are actually in transit.
Ship crews working along China’s Yangtze River and parts of the Grand Canal can now receive food and daily necessities by drone, reducing the need to wait for supply boats or dock at ports. The Yangtze, China's longest river, sustains a vast floating workforce; with about one million licensed mariners operating along its water.
Many crew members live and work on board for long periods, making resupply a persistent challenge. The drone delivery service, launched in August last year, allows them to place orders while remaining on board their vessels.
The service was introduced in 2024 by Changjiang Hui, a tech firm providing overwater e-commerce services based in Jiangsu province, to address long-standing last mile logistics challenges for river vessels.
Following a 2025 service upgrade, the platform now delivers to ships that are on the move.
It works just like drone logistics company Zipline’s does – only this one uses a mini programme on Chinese social media app WeChat.
Orders are linked to designated service stations, and vessel identification numbers along with registered phone numbers are used to accurately locate ships before dispatching drones.
Packages are released automatically upon arrival, ensuring safe delivery even for fragile items such as beverages.
Between January to August last year, drones operating under the system reportedly completed 27,000 flights, covering approximately 143,000 kilometres and delivering 264 tonnes of supplies to more than 8,700 vessels.
The helpful Nanjing municipal authorities have built a low-altitude service system and flight platform as part of China’s pilot zones for civilian unmanned aviation.
Officials explained that the system integrates intelligent dispatching, 5G communication, route planning, and visual recognition technologies and is now in routine operation.
At present, four such bases have been established along the Nanjing section of the Yangtze River, with two more under construction. Each base has a different focus depending on its location – some specialise in fresh fruits and vegetables, others in prepared meals, and still others in staples such as rice, flour, and cooking oil.
On average, the four bases together handle about 200 orders per day, with delivery times ranging from 30 minutes to two hours from order placement to receipt.
In Huai’an, Jiangsu Province, ships navigating the Grand Canal have also started receiving drone-delivered supplies, with delivery times reportedly reduced from hours to just minutes.
While the service is currently limited to areas with established infrastructure, operators have expressed plans to extend coverage along the entire 2,800-kilometre main channel of the Yangtze River, enabling crew members to receive deliveries almost anywhere along the route.
"It's just as easy as ordering food on shore—burgers, desserts, drinks, whatever you crave," said Lu Jingyu, owner of the cargo vessel Xinmao 8868, as he enjoyed a meal delivered by drone. Lu made the order in January this year, while sailing from Tongling in Anhui province to Nanjing in Jiangsu province, and his order arrived promptly.
Lu added that due to complex waterways and currents, cargo vessels on the Yangtze cannot dock freely under current regulations. Stops are permitted only at ports, service areas, or designated anchorages.
Even when docking is possible, shore access remains cumbersome, compounding daily difficulties for crews.
This has made Lu one of the frequent users of the platform
"After pre-registering my details – name, phone number, vessel name, and nine-digit ship ID – I simply select our sailing direction and service provider," he said.
His 77-yuan ($11.07) order included eleven items from three restaurants.
Upon order receipt, the drone operator's staff forwarded details to a food delivery app. A courier delivered the meals to the operator's storage area within 30 minutes.
Operator Zhang Kai then prepared the order while tracking Xinmao 8868's real-time position. When the ship entered a three-kilometer radius of the base at 2PM, Zhang attached the package to a drone and contacted Lu.
Through an intercom system, Zhang informed Lu that a drone was approaching the red buoy No. 142 and confirmed that it was already in sight.
"The drone is lowering now. Please don't stand under the drone and stay safe,” the operator said.
“Wait until it moves away before picking up the package,"
Shortly afterward, the food was successfully delivered. The whole process was finished in just two minutes.
But how do drones locate moving ships and deliver accurately?
"Our proprietary edge computing module is key," stated Zhai Haifeng, general manager of Changjiang Hui.
The system combines the ordering phone's GPS data with AI-powered analytics and visual recognition to predict the vessel's location. The drone then syncs its speed and course to hover above the ship, autonomously locking onto the landing zone.
As Zhang monitored his screen, the drone stabilised and lowered the package via cable. Upon touchdown, the cable automatically detached and retracted.
"High-speed propellers make manual retrieval hazardous," Zhai warned.
"Our weight-sensing system triggers immediate disengagement after delivery.
Added Lu; "Now it's so much easier to grab a bite while sailing. Some crew members even order flowers to brighten up their day. Life on the water keeps getting more colorful!"