Drone manufacturer Schiebel: new RPAS contract with EMSA for the Camcopter S-100

The drone manufacturer Schiebel has received a further multi-year service contract from the European Maritime Safety Agency (EMSA); it covers the S-100 Camcopter, an unmanned aircraft system (UAS). Under it, Schiebel provides services with remotely piloted aircraft systems (RPAS) intended to help EU member states monitor emissions and conduct maritime surveillance operations.

Schiebel signed a first contract to support coast guards and maritime authorities in Europe back in 2018; a second followed in 2021. The newly awarded one runs for up to four years – two years are firmly agreed, with an option to extend by a further two.

What the drone manufacturer delivers for EMSA

Since 2018, the S-100 has logged more than 1,780 operational days for EMSA. In Europe, it has operated in Croatia, France, Finland, Denmark, Spain, Estonia, Romania, Lithuania, Iceland, Germany and Belgium, among others. Whether from land or on board ships, the system performs general maritime surveillance flights by day and night, search and rescue operations and the detection of oil slicks. It also measures the sulphur content of ship exhaust gases to ensure compliance with the limits set by the International Maritime Organization (IMO).

The Camcopter S-100 can also carry several payloads simultaneously, with a combined weight of up to 50 kilograms.

Neil Hunter, Head of Global Sales at Schiebel, said: “We have now been supporting the European maritime authorities for almost six years and are very proud to continue our success story with EMSA. It shows once again that the availability and reliability of the S-100 are unrivalled.”