Provided are techniques for monitoring a moving vessel using a detachable drone coupled to the moving vessel. An event is identified that triggers detachment of the detachable drone from the moving vessel. The detachable drone is detached from the moving vessel. The detachable drone is moved to a predetermined location. A beacon based on beacon data is transmitted from the detachable drone. In response to the detachable drone receiving a request for the data, data collected from monitoring the moving vessel is delivered.