EMSA extends EU drone sea monitoring with new France mission

The European Maritime Safety Agency (EMSA) is deploying another aerial drone to monitor boat activity in France’s English Channel waters, expanding the number of UAVs the organization has scouring shipping lanes for – among other things – emissions violations.

As it has frequently done in keeping tabs on ship activity from on high, the EMSA has contracted Vienna-based Schiebel to supply its S-100 drones for use in the added missions from France’s CROSS Gris-Nez coast guard and naval observation station. 

Located mid-way between Calais and Boulogne-sur-Mer, the base provides direct access to what has been described as one of the most bustling shipping lanes on the planet. In addition to using onboard sniffer sensors to collect fuel emissions from vessels to ensure compliance with 2020 rule restrictions, the UAV’s video feed also has the capacity to permit authorities to keep watch of other activity, including fishing craft observation…