Iridium Plans to Launch Maritime Distress Service in 2020

New International Maritime Organization (IMO) performance standards for global maritime distress safety system equipment and approved amendments to the Safety of Life at Sea (SOLAS) Treaty are opening the door to Iridium becoming a GMDSS service provider, it said in a news release Tuesday. It said it's awaiting an IMO resolution recognizing Iridium as a certified GMDSS mobile satellite service provider, with that resolution expected to come in 2018 and Iridium to begin offering service in 2020. Iridium said it began the process to become a recognized GMDSS provider in April 2013. It said the SOLAS amendments allow GMDSS mobile satellite services to be provided by companies other than Inmarsat.