Story ID: 
Avincis Wins Spanish Maritime Search-and-rescue Contract
By: Charles Alcock
Caption: Portuguese operator has supported its Spanish client for more than 30 years
Word Count: 191
Spain’s Maritime Safety and Rescue Society (SASEMAR) has awarded another five-year contract to Avincis to provide maritime search-and-rescue (SAR) services with its helicopter fleet. The Portugal-based operator has flown SAR missions in Spain for more than 30 years since it first won a public tender for the work in 1993, logging more than 100,000 hours on 16,000 missions and rescuing more than 8,500 people.
Under the contract with SASEMAR, Avincis conducts SAR missions under the direction of the Salvamento Marítimo agency from 11 helicopter bases along Spain’s 7,905-km (4,912-mile) coastline. The aircraft have to be available 24/7 and year-round.
Avincis has a fleet of more than 220 aircraft and employs 2,400 people, including pilots, support crew, and technicians. In addition to Spain and Portugal, it also has bases in Italy, Norway, Sweden, and Finland, as well as operations in Mozambique and Chile.
SASEMAR is a public entity responsible for rescuing those in danger at sea, and also for combating marine pollution, monitoring and assisting vessels, and maritime safety and navigation. Its area of operations covers an area of 1.5 million sq km, which is three times the size of Spain.