Iridium's New GMDSS Academy to Bolster Safety Training for Maritime Professionals

Iridium's New GMDSS Academy to Bolster Safety Training for Maritime Professionals
by Clarence Oxford
Los Angeles CA (SPX) Dec 07, 2023

Iridium Communications Inc. (NASDAQ: IRDM), a leader in global voice and data satellite communications, has announced the launch of the Iridium Global Maritime Distress and Safety System Academy (GMDSS Academy). This new initiative represents a significant advancement in maritime safety education, providing specialized curricula focused on GMDSS and related safety services. The GMDSS Academy is particularly geared towards ensuring maritime students receive the necessary Iridium GMDSS safety instruction for operating aboard Safety of Life at Sea (SOLAS) class vessels.

The curricula offered by the GMDSS Academy are available free of charge and are taught by Iridium Service Providers (SPs). This educational resource is not only beneficial to seafarers but also to partners or installers seeking to foster a safer environment while at sea. With thousands of maritime colleges worldwide, the GMDSS Academy's curricula can be seamlessly integrated into existing coursework, providing a valuable addition to maritime education.

Iridium GMDSS, provided as a Public Service, is an automated ship-to-shore and ship-to-ship service regulated by the International Maritime Organization's (IMO) SOLAS convention. It offers support and life-saving assistance to distressed mariners at sea. In 2020, Iridium GMDSS marked a milestone by becoming the world's first and only truly global, real-time maritime emergency service. The service operates on Iridium's weather-resilient L-band spectrum, enabling users to make emergency phone calls, initiate SOS with the distress alert button, and transmit Maritime Safety Information (MSI) through Iridium SafetyCast. MSI transmissions include crucial information such as the location of dangerous debris and navigational warnings.

The GMDSS Academy's training packages include three main components: The Iridium Network, Iridium GMDSS, and Iridium Maritime Security Services. Each package offers in-depth detail while ensuring students stay current on the latest technology and changes in SOLAS GMDSS regulations.

Wouter Deknopper, Vice President and General Manager of Iridium's Maritime Line of Business, emphasized the importance of the GMDSS Academy in improving maritime safety. He stated, "Offering thorough educational curricula gives us the opportunity to distribute life-saving information and answer common questions before mariners set out to sea. Any maritime school, association or government agency can contact us to become trained as expert instructors for their constituents."

The training packs provided by the Iridium GMDSS Academy are accessible to all interested parties at no cost. They can be downloaded from the Iridium GMDSS Academy website, where visitors will also find educational videos, background information about Iridium GMDSS, case studies, terminal unboxing and installation tutorials, and a comprehensive list of FAQs. The GMDSS Academy curricula will be continuously updated, with participating organizations notified as new materials become available.

The launch of the Iridium GMDSS Academy marks a significant stride in enhancing global maritime safety education. By providing specialized training in GMDSS and related safety services, Iridium Communications Inc. is equipping maritime professionals with the knowledge and skills necessary to operate safely and effectively in SOLAS class environments.