Is it legal to fly over vessels in open sea?

[Rocky43]

Lets say its in open sea, docking out there, and I am not flying in an NFZ.

 

[Thomas B]

Should be, as long as you are in international waters and not in NFZ or just flying over a ship/object that happened to cross your flight path.

 

[theairbase]

Not sure. I’m uk based I thought 150meters was the nearest you can get in any space land or sea

 

[FoxhallGH]

Not sure. I’m uk based I thought 150meters was the nearest you can get in any space land or sea

You've got your feet and metres mixed up ...
People and Property - 50 metres (150 ft)
Crowds & built up areas - 150 metres (500 ft)

Drone code - Dronesafe ... page 4

I'd say that you'd be expected to maintain 50 metres (150 ft) clearance from any ship/boat that had crew on board. If it was a deserted 'hulk' then you could get much closer. In effect, the rules ask you to maintain clearance from objects where you don't have any control over people who may be there, or transiting through the area (i.e. if you're not in a position to ask people to clear the area while you fly it) - and private property that you do not own.

 

[jagraphics]

I would say "It depends".

Notwithstanding the comments above on CAA/FAA etc recomendations on avoiding people and "buildings" it depends on where you are and what the vessel is.

Buzzing a military vessel is likey to get a "self defence" response that will entale the disintegration of your drone .

However the same might be true of less obviously marked boats. Eg Smugglers/ Criminals. The Rich and Famous. In some areas where there is piracy yoru drone might be assumed to be doing a recce for criminals.

Also some parts of the world civilians carry guns and shoot at almost anything in range just because it is in range.

So there is The Law and there is what happens in reality.

If it is in National Waters of a 1st world country then the normal photography/video/drone rules apply I would have thought. the same as flying up to a building in an flat empty area on land.

 

[FLPilotshark]

I live over in the States in FL and but the port of Tampa where all the cruize ships come in and out of so I called the local port authority today to make sure I would not get in any trouble if I flew my Mavic Pro over and around a commercial ship that will be leaving Port. I was VERY surprised when they told me that I cannot do this without the express, written consent of the owner of the ship and the captain. They told me that it is a homeland security issue and communications issue. He said that the Port Authority wanted to do this last year, but were told they could not. Can anyone provide me with PROOF one way or another? I would like to think the guy is misinformed, but I am not willing to take the chance and have Homeland Security tackle me!

 

[Shon]

I live over in the States in FL and but the port of Tampa where all the cruize ships come in and out of so I called the local port authority today to make sure I would not get in any trouble if I flew my Mavic Pro over and around a commercial ship that will be leaving Port. I was VERY surprised when they told me that I cannot do this without the express, written consent of the owner of the ship and the captain. They told me that it is a homeland security issue and communications issue. He said that the Port Authority wanted to do this last year, but were told they could not. Can anyone provide me with PROOF one way or another? I would like to think the guy is misinformed, but I am not willing to take the chance and have Homeland Security tackle me!

AirMap says you would be in Controlled Airspace, Class D. It is also fairly close to an airport.

 

[jagraphics]

I live over in the States in FL and but the port of Tampa where all the cruize ships come in and out of so I called the local port authority today to make sure I would not get in any trouble if I flew my Mavic Pro over and around a commercial ship that will be leaving Port. I was VERY surprised when they told me that I cannot do this without the express, written consent of the owner of the ship and the captain. They told me that it is a homeland security issue and communications issue. He said that the Port Authority wanted to do this last year, but were told they could not. Can anyone provide me with PROOF one way or another? I would like to think the guy is misinformed, but I am not willing to take the chance and have Homeland Security tackle me!

Ask Homeland Security AND the FAA. See if you get the same answer from both..... That will be much better than an answer from a bunch of people (and a dog) on the internet.

BTW Ask in writing and get written replies. A phone conversation is worth the paper it is written on.

 

[Bmore_Drone_srvc]

I do not believe it is illegal to fly over a vessel if its in your flight path but I would use discretion, I definitely would not recommend passing over a military vessel of any sort unless you never want to see your drone again and probably catch some fines. That being said, there is technology out there on the market that can allow anyone to "protect," their property by disrupting the signal of your drone and ultimately taking control of it if you aren't able to get away from it. A lot of modern vessels are being equipped with these anti drone devices for crew members to use if they feel the need. Im not sure if its available to the civilian market but either way, I would just keep some distance to be safe.

 

[deleted member 877]

The “flying over people” rule comes into play if there are people out on the deck of the vessel you are flying over.

 

[PalmSunset]

I live about a mile from the Mississippi River in New Orleans, and frequently fly over the river, and inevitably, tugboats, barges, and sometimes container ships are navigating the river. I do not fly above them or chase them in any wya, and if I see one, I'll offer a wide berth. Most often, I'll navigate to the nearest shoreline and wait till they pass- my hunch is that they do not even know I am there. And frankly I don't want to be noticed.

 

[Aussie Oldtimer]

Cant helo for UK regs but In Aust, we have a 30 m exclusion zone from any vehicle/people (I assume that covers vessels as well) so it might make it hard to take off and land. I think cruise ships have banned drone flights for good reason. Imagine someone full of the ‘lunatic soup’ deciding to fly from the back of a boat.

 

[FLPilotshark]

They have really cracked down in the UK mate on the UAV rules vs the States! The FAA is trying to pass where we will be able to fly over people and do night missions if you carry an Airmen Cert and have the equipment for lighting then can be seen from 3NM's on your UAV!

 

[tmtwomey]

I was VERY surprised when they told me that I cannot do this without the express, written consent of the owner of the ship and the captain. They told me that it is a homeland security issue and communications issue.

Cruise ships frequent the harbor where I live. Homeland security defines a security zone around these ships where recreational boats are not allowed. Also, Coast Guard vessels often escort these ships in and out of the harbor. If they don't want boats around these ships, I doubt they want drones flying near them.

 

[jagraphics]

The problem is the bad guys also use drones as well as complete idiots.

Having just watched some Westerns (remember the colour of the hats on the old B&W films) I think the FAA and CAA etc should insist that Bad Guys have Black Drones, Good Guys have White Drones and the Idiots have Red Drones...
Do yo think that idea will fly ?

Seriously for the LEA, Military, Security etc ALL UAV's are susspect until proved innocent. I expect this will be until we get mandatory registration and IFF on Drones.

 

[Paulwhite626]

AirMap says you would be in Controlled Airspace, Class D. It is also fairly close to an airport.

Actually, you are outside of the class D airspace for MacDill, but underneath the Class B airspace for TPA which extends from 1200-10000'.

 

[Dale D]

Here is my only experience flying near boats- in this case, the Miami River. At all times I was in visual sight of the drone . It's a 2 min clip which starts out with Florida Everglades (NOT in the national park but across the road). I'd be interested in anyone's comments on whether or not they think this might be legal or illegal. I never flew over cars although an expresssway is visible, and I never flew directly over any boats. At most times I was about 75-100 feet from the boat. Also, same question...legal or not? Am just trying to learn my responsibilities.

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[Bigbird48]

Cruise ships frequent the harbor where I live. Homeland security defines a security zone around these ships where recreational boats are not allowed. Also, Coast Guard vessels often escort these ships in and out of the harbor. If they don't want boats around these ships, I doubt they want drones flying near them.

CURIOUS as to where you live, I've cruised out of Florida many times and civilian boats are all around us very close to the Cruise ship.

 

[Dale D]

These images were shot from a Miami city park alongside the Miami River. The Mavic Air was just above my head and a little ways (maybe 15 feet) in front of me...not even as high as the highway. There are both commercial and pleasure boats in the river. I'd say the drone was a bit higher than the tops of the palm trees, though not much. I have actually seen footage of Sunday departure cruise ships leaving the Port of Miami from a drone store near me. They used that footage on their big screens in the store to stimulate sales.! Not sure if they had official approval for those clips. I would never be so bold as to attempt that. I am so gun shy now from reading these weekly horror stories I think I will only restrict my flying to large un- ocuppied spaces. I am practicing for a super trip to Iceland.

 

[deleted member 877]

Here is my only experience flying near boats- in this case, the Miami River. At all times I was in visual sight of the drone . It's a 2 min clip which starts out with Florida Everglades (NOT in the national park but across the road). I'd be interested in anyone's comments on whether or not they think this might be legal or illegal. I never flew over cars although an expresssway is visible, and I never flew directly over any boats. At most times I was about 75-100 feet from the boat. Also, same question...legal or not? Am just trying to learn my responsibilities.

First of all that is an excellent video - well done! I’m nitpicking here but at 2 mins 10 secs it looks to me as if you would have had to have been positioned directly above the boat as it passed under you.