Satellite firm Inmarsat is modernising safety communication and improving safety standards in global shipping with the launch of Fleet Safety.

Several years in the making and a successor to the Inmarsat C maritime safety service, Fleet Safety has undergone sea trials and has been granted International Maritime Organization (IMO) approval under Global Maritime Distress & Safety System (GMDSS) requirements following the assessment by the International Mobile Satellite Organisation (IMSO).

Following the launch of RescueNet and SafetyNet II, Inmarsat has updated documentation and created training material to ensure the industry is ready for the safety service. In addition, Inmarsat has added Fleet Poll, a data reporting service for long-range identification tracking, vessel monitoring systems and asset tracking as well as a ships security alert system. The next stage is to gain Flag State approval for adoption across the maritime industry.

“To this day, Inmarsat C forms the backbone of the GMDSS, with more than 100,000 marine terminals having safeguarded the lives of seafarers for over 30 years,” said Peter Broadhurst, senior vice president at Inmarsat. “However, as we move further into the digital era of shipping, technology can be used for enhanced safety and also provides new ways of tackling emerging challenges. The launch of Fleet Safety marks a turning point in the way satellite communications ensure the preservation of life at sea.”

Delivered via existing Fleet Broadband or Fleet One voice and data services with the addition of a maritime safety terminal, Fleet Safety offers network availability and global coverage. Its interface is optimised for usability, making it easier for seafarers to access critical functionality and communicate with maritime rescue coordination centres (MRCCs) in an emergency.

Now, a network of over 60 global MRCCs can be contacted by voice or instant messaging at the touch of a button, in seconds.

Fleet Safety also includes a maritime safety information (MSI) interface and a distress chat function. The MSI feature allows users to control the stream of MSI broadcasts and download historic broadcasts, which include meteorological, navigational and search-and-rescue warnings. Meanwhile, the distress chat capability enables the creation of chat rooms between ships in distress, assisting vessels and MRCCs for quicker response and resolution times.

Given the functionality and features available to Fleet Safety users, Inmarsat has also invested in training seafarers to help them realise its potential. Going above and beyond user instruction, the approach aims to educate crews on the importance of being proactive in maritime distress communications.

“In a precarious situation, notifying rescue authorities early can prove pivotal in saving the ship and, more importantly, the lives of the crew on board,” said Broadhurst. “Seafarers will generally do their utmost to rectify an issue before requesting assistance, but Inmarsat’s Fleet Safety facilitates a culture for personnel to report situations early, rather than wait until events get beyond their control.”

Inmarsat was founded in 1979 by the IMO to establish a satellite communications network for protecting the lives of seafarers. With the launch of Inmarsat C in 1991, it became the first satellite operator to meet the stringent requirements of the IMO’s GMDSS – a set of marine safety procedures that Inmarsat helped define – for ship security alert systems.