Canadian Coast Guard Vessel. (Photo: Wikimedia Commons)

The Canadian Coast Guard has adopted Iridium Communications‘ Certus connectivity platform on dozens of new vessels and icebreakers for crew member internet and safety monitoring services, the operator announced Thursday.

The Canadian Coast Guard procured the Iridium services through the operator’s re-seller partner MetOcean Telematics. Iridium Certus utilizes Thales VesseLINK 700 terminals on its vessels, which were also deployed to the newly equipped Coast Guard vessels. Financial details of the orders were not disclosed.

“Reliable internet connectivity onboard our vessels helps contribute to our crew members’ well-being and ensures that our crews are able to carry out the Canadian Coast Guard’s services to protect mariners and the marine environment. Having a support network to ensure we never lose that vital connection with our shore-based personnel and services is vital in the Arctic,” said Canadian Coast Guard Commissioner Mario Pelletier.

Iridium Certus is an L-band broadband service designed to provide global, weather-resilient coverage for on-the-move internet and high-quality voice access services. The network has provided safety services, including those for the Global Maritime Distress and Safety System (GMDSS), since it launched in December 2020, making Iridium only the second company to offer GMDSS maritime services.