For the past five months, the NGO Migrant Offshore Aid Station (MOAS) worked relentlessly to save over 8,800 lives in the dangerous borders of Mediterranean by spotting and monitoring distressed vessels. Schiebel’s Unmanned Air System CAMCOPTER® S-100 was of great assistance in the success of the mission.
In 2014, MOAS and Schiebel rescued more than 2,800 men, women and children. This year in May the NGO ́s Phoenix, a 40-meter long ship, on which the CAMCOPTER® S-100 is stationed, set sail again until the end of September 2015. Totally from 2014 till date over 11,600 lives were saved with the guidance and coordination of Rome’s Maritime Rescue Coordination Centre.
The S-100 can locate refugee boats by day and night, in rough sea conditions and at long distance. The camera of the unmanned helicopter provides video in real time to the MOAS team. The high resolution of images helps to differentiate between a fishing boat and a ship in danger.
The use of this unmanned helicopter has widened the area of operation and MOAS has become the first civilian organization to use the high-tech helicopters for a great humanitarian purpose. “Schiebel has generously offered the camcopter (Camera helicopter) completely free use in part of 2015,” said Martin Xuereb, the MOAS director.
MOAS will continue to monitor the situation closely and resume its operation next year. Schiebel has provided support to prevent deaths at sea whenever possible.
Source: Schiebel
 completely free use in part of 2015,” said Martin Xuereb, the MOAS director.){kind=link}