The European Maritime Safety Agency (EMSA) has contracted Schiebel to enhance multi-purpose maritime operations using its CAMCOPTER S-100 Unmanned Air System (UAS) in the English Channel and southern North Sea.
This operation aims to assist the maritime authorities of Belgium and France in various coast guard functions, including emission monitoring. The S-100 is stationed at the Gris Nez Maritime Rescue Coordination Centre (MRCC) in France’s Pas-de-Calais Department and will provide aerial support to both countries within airspace validated by the civil aviation authority, depending on the areas being surveyed.
The UAS offers enhanced capabilities for maritime safety, search and rescue operations, maritime surveillance, environmental protection, and responses to maritime accidents and disasters. The operationally mature S-100 is equipped with a range of advanced sensors, including a Trakka TC-300 EO/IR sensor, an Explicit Mini Sniffer for emission monitoring, a Becker Avionics BD406 Emergency Beacon Locator, an Automatic Identification System (AIS) receiver, and a Mode-S Transponder ADSB out.
“We have been supporting EMSA since 2018. The CAMCOPTER has also played a critical role in several search and rescue operations. The S-100 saves valuable response time and enables a quick and efficient way of scanning large areas, even for very small objects and anomalies at sea,” said Hans Georg Schiebel, Chairman of the Schiebel Group.
