{"id":37744,"date":"2020-01-23T21:11:19","date_gmt":"2020-01-23T13:11:19","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/wp-productionenv-bjg9h2g2bgg5b8aa.southeastasia-01.azurewebsites.net\/news\/iridium-marks-major-milestone-with-maritime-safety-breaks-monopoly\/"},"modified":"2020-01-23T21:11:19","modified_gmt":"2020-01-23T13:11:19","slug":"iridium-marks-major-milestone-with-maritime-safety-breaks-monopoly","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/starpath.global\/news\/iridium-marks-major-milestone-with-maritime-safety-breaks-monopoly\/","title":{"rendered":"Iridium marks major milestone with maritime safety, breaks monopoly"},"content":{"rendered":"

A year after completing launch of their Iridium-NEXT constellation, the Iridium Corporation has marked a major milestone with certification of the constellation for use in the Global Maritime Distress and Safety System (GMDSS).<\/p>\n

The certification ends a monopoly on the GMDSS previously held by Inmarsat and opens up the system for use globally, including in the lucrative and emerging Arctic Ocean shipping lanes as a result of climate change.<\/p>\n

In short, the GMDSS serves as a lifeline from ship to shore when a vessel is in distress \u2014 defined as when a vessel is threatened by serious and\/or imminent danger and requires immediate assistance.<\/p>\n

Full implementation of the GMDSS \u2014 \u201cfull\u201d in this case meaning its operation in all ocean areas except the Arctic and Antarctic regions \u2014 occurred on 1 February 1999; but its roots trace back more than a hundred years.<\/p>\n

In 1912, the sinking of the RMS Titanic on its maiden voyage highlighted the need for the world\u2019s maritime powers to improve ship distress and international shipping safety.<\/p>\n

In 1914, the world\u2019s maritime nations agreed a process that eventually led to the International Convention for the Safety of Life at Sea (SOLAS), the International Maritime Organisation and, eventually, the GMDSS.<\/p>\n

Today, GMDSS is a requirement for all SOLAS vessels \u2014 cargo ships over 300 gross register tonnage, as well as passenger ships such as ocean liners, ferries and cruise ships.  But there are tens of thousands of non-SOLAS vessels that use GMDSS as well.<\/p>\n

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A maritime rescue coordinated through the GMDSS. (Credit: Iridium Communications)<\/p>\n

The most recognisable component of satellite GMDSS is the so called \u201cRed Button\u201d.  When a vessel is in distress, a person can hold down the button for 3 seconds to send either a distress alert or a distress call to a Maritime Rescue Coordination Center.<\/p>\n

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Since its implementation, Inmarsat has held a monopoly over the GMDSS.<\/p>\n

But that has now changed.<\/p>\n

In May 2019, Iridium obtained recognition from the International Maritime Organization\u2019s Maritime Safety Committee to serve as a GMDSS provider.  With that, Iridium was one step closer to being able to provide vessel owners with a choice of GMDSS equipment for the first time ever.<\/p>\n

But there were still two hurdles.<\/p>\n

    \n
  1. The SOLAS Convention had to be formally changed to allow Iridium as a provided, and <\/li>\n
  2. Iridium needed a Letter of Compliance from the International Mobile Satellite Organization formally authorizing it to provide GMDSS.<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n

    The SOLAS Convention changes took effect on 1 January 2020, and the Letter of Compliance was delivered to Iridium on 13 January 2020 \u2014 paving the way for Iridium to begin selling its GMDSS consoles to maritime operators.<\/p>\n

    But this all begs the questions: why did it take Iridium so long to receive this certification and letter of compliance?  And why was there a permitted global monopoly on GMDSS service providers for 20 years?<\/p>\n<\/p>\n