SwissDrones and CLS Group deploy unmanned helicopter for maritime operations

The SwissDrones SDO 50 VTOL unmanned helicopter system recently performed a demonstration in the open ocean from aboard the Bourbon Offshore ship Argonaute.

The two companies recently demonstrated how drones can play a vital role in such critical maritime operations as search and rescue, controlling fisheries, and monitoring pollution and ship emissions. The demonstration took place in the open ocean from aboard the Bourbon Offshore ship Argonaute and using the SwissDrones SDO 50 VTOL unmanned helicopter system. The SDO 50 was specifically chosen for this mission because of its long endurance, ease-of-use, low logistical footprint, and ability to deploy in harsh weather conditions, all of which allow it to be easily operated from the deck of a maritime vessel.

Useful in search and rescue missions

According to CLS, the deployment demonstrated how remotely piloted aircraft systems such as the SwissDrones SDO 50 can complete Earth Observation Systems. The deployment also made a case for using drones as a complementary tool in the overall surveillance chain for monitoring oceans over extended periods and across large areas.

The deployment, which was done in collaboration with the French Navy, Bourbon Offshore, and the Direction Générale de l’Aviation Civile, follows a previous deployment by SwissDrones and CLS completed in May 2021.

Nadia Maaref, Director of Maritime Security at CLS, commented: “CLS has been an expert in the field of maritime surveillance and security for more than 30 years, with no less than 400 satellites available to support national sovereignty and security at sea. CLS’s collaboration with SwissDrones adds a further stone to the decision-making tools available to maritime authorities.”

“Drones are a complementary asset in the overall surveillance process,” added Ulrich Amberg, CEO of SwissDrones. “They enhance maritime situational awareness with additional sources of data and make operations safer for coastal authorities during hazardous conditions.”

Meanwhile, Russian IT company Radar MMS has unveiled a UAV that it says can save people drowning after a ship accident or a helicopter crash on water.