European aerial emergency services provider Avincis has been awarded a further five-year contract by the Maritime Safety and Rescue Society (SASEMAR), the public entity responsible for maritime SAR services in Spain, valued at EUR 305 million. This contract solidifies Avincis's position in providing search and rescue services in a region where it has delivered uninterrupted SAR support for the past 30 years.

The contract with SASEMAR ensures that Avincis' highly-experienced professionals will continue to carry out SAR missions assigned by Salvamento Marítimo from its 11 helicopter bases and along Spain's 7,905 kilometres of coastline. As part of its contractual commitment, Avincis operates helicopters 24/7 every day of the year, while maintaining the highest standards of quality and safety.

Avincis has been providing these continuous services since first winning the public tender in 1993 when the first contract was signed between the two entities. Over this period, Avincis has flown over 100,000 hours, completed approximately 16,000 missions and rescued or evacuated more than 8,500 people.

John Boag, Group CEO of Avincis, says: “SASEMAR is one of our longest-standing and most respected clients, and we are very pleased to have been awarded the latest tender for the helicopters providing part of its aerial service. We have delivered maritime search and rescue services in Spain for the past three decades. Our highly-experienced and well-trained crews will continue to be there whenever needed over the next five years.”