8th March 2016
This month, Inmarsat celebrated the 25th anniversary of Inmarsat C, a global maritime distress and safety system which for over two decades has been saving lives at sea. On the anniversary, the leading satellite communications network provider revealed that in 2015, over 600 distress alerts from vessels were broadcast over the service, responding to those across the globe in need. Inmarsat currently have over 180,000 active Inmarsat C terminals globally.
At Satcom Global, we are passionate about keeping seafarers connected and supporting maritime safety, ensuring our customers are never left at sea. By today’s standards, all ships over 300 gross tonnes are required by the International Maritime Organisation (IMO) to be fitted with a Global Maritime Distress and Safety System (GMDSS), allowing ship-to-shore communication in the event of emergency. The IMO states that every ship, while at sea, must be capable of transmitting distress alerts by at least two independent means, each using a different radio-communication service, with Inmarsat being the only approved GMDSS provider in the world, adhering to safety at sea requirements.
The Inmarsat C is a two-way store and forward communications system which transmits information through data packets in three ways: ship-to-shore, shore-to-ship and ship-to-ship, allowing for complete communications. The Inmarsat C consists of an omnidirectional antenna, transceiver and a Dedicated Distress Button (DDB) to activate a distress alert. The SAILOR 6000 series, ranging from a SAILOR 6110 Mini-C up to the SAILOR 6150 Mini-C are all GMDSS products used over Inmarsat’s network. At Satcom Global we offer the full range as well as the SAILOR 6000 GMDSS Console a complete communications solution. Simply select the configuration depending on your regional sailing requirements for either A2, A3 or A4 sea areas. Your console will then be delivered complete with the required combination of GMDSS approved VHF/HF radio, Inmarsat Mini-C and accessories, fulfilling IMO requirements.
With this mandatory service in place, distress alerts are quickly and easily sent when a ship or crew are in grave or imminent danger. Once a distress alert is sent, the alert is communicated via a land earth station and then automatically routed to the nearest Maritime Rescue Coordination Centre (MRCC), with the vessels details, location, speed and nature of the distress noted. The Inmarsat C operates independently from any FleetBroadband, Fleet One, VSAT or other satellite communications solution installed on vessels, and is a vital lifeline on-board for saving lives.
Ronald Spithout, Inmarsat Maritime President commented ‘Over its lifetime, GMDSS has made the biggest single contribution to maritime safety since the advent of radio in 1899’.
With the recent re-brand of AND Group under the Satcom Global umbrella, our extensive product portfolio now ranges from maritime satellite communication solutions including the Inmarsat C, to marine and offshore products and systems such as offshore safety systems, maritime navigation equipment and marine spares. Satcom Global also operates an in-house network of multi-skilled maritime and offshore engineers, providing engineering, maintenance and installation services, whenever and wherever you need them.
For more information on the Inmarsat C and other maritime communications terminals, or marine and offshore products and systems, please contact your local friendly sales manager or contact us at oceania@satcomglobal.com
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