Between August and October the Malta-based non-government organisation Migrant Offshore Aid Station (MOAS) is operating two Schiebel Camcopter S-100 rotary-wing unmanned aerial systems. The S-100s will fly from MOAS's 40m (131ft) expedition vessel Phoenix in major migrant shipping lanes in the Mediterranean, from where the crew will monitor the area to locate migrant vessels in distress, using sonar, thermal and night imaging systems. When a boat in trouble is located, the respective rescue co-ordination centre located in countries around the Mediterranean sea will be informed and two 6m (19ft 8in) rigid-hull inflatable boats launched from Phoenix. It is estimated that more than 65,000 migrants from North Africa have attempted to reach the shores of Italy and Malta this year, with many perishing during the crossing of the Mediterranean.
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