The SAR-CAM project aims to make the search for people in distress more efficient and to ease the burden on the crew. Therefore, a cost-effective and customizable camera system will be developed to support civil sea rescue. The system will be easy to operate and will enable the crew to spot floating objects at a distance without having to stand outside and to search the horizon with binoculars. The camera system, which can be attached to the mast, automatically scans the ship's surroundings and facilitates the detection and tracking of floating objects. The system can be adapted to the different needs of various organizations and tailored to the specific scenarios of SAR missions. Once installed, the system will be robust enough to withstand the harsh conditions at sea but remains accessible for technical modification and updates. Thanks to voluntary and non-profit work the overall development costs are significantly reduced compared to conventional providers. The only costs that are incurred arise from purchasing and assembling the hardware, as well as from installing and (if necessary) maintaining the system.