Iridium Communications achieves approval to provide Global Maritime Distress Safety System (GMDSS) services. Photo Credit: Iridium

The International Maritime Organization’s (IMO) Maritime Safety Committee (MSC) has recognized that the Iridium network meets all the criteria of the IMO needed to provide mobile satellite services in the Global Maritime Distress and Safety System (GMDSS), and to adopt the “Statement of Recognition” proposed by the United States as a committee resolution.

The MSC also agreed that Iridium and the United States, the delegation sponsoring Iridium’s application at the IMO, will work with the International Mobile Satellite Organization (IMSO), which will monitor progress in Iridium’s implementation of the service. The IMSO will report to the MSC once a public services agreement has been entered into between Iridium and the IMSO, likely marking the start of this service.