Industry calls for more training on the latest Global Maritime Distress and Safety System (GMDSS) have been answered by Iridium Communications
The Virginia, US-based firm has introduced a dedicated academy to train seafarers and cadets to use its GMDSS when working aboard Solas-class vessels.
The GMDSS Academy’s free curricula are designed for maritime training organisations, and can provide information to seafarers, partners and hardware installers. It can be integrated with existing coursework at maritime colleges around the world.
Iridium GMDSS is an automated ship-to-shore and ship-to-ship service regulated by IMO’s Solas convention providing support and life-saving assistance to distressed mariners at sea.
It started these services in 2020 over Iridium’s low earth orbit (LEO) satellite constellation as an alternative to Inmarsat’s GMDSS over geostationary satellites.
Both provide maritime emergency services and safety alerts and information over a weather-resilient L-band spectrum. They enable emergency phone calls, distress alerts and transmit Maritime Safety Information (MSI), such as the location of dangerous debris, navigational warnings, and other anomalies.
For vessels with Iridium GMDSS terminals, MSI information is received through Iridium SafetyCast.
The GMDSS Academy curricula consist of three training packs: the Iridium Network, Iridium GMDSS and Iridium maritime security services. Each provides indepth detail while helping seafarers and cadets remain up to date with the latest technology and changes to Solas GMDSS regulations.
“The GMDSS Academy is instrumental to improving safety at sea by providing critical GMDSS updates and communicating Iridium processes and procedures,” said Iridium vice president and general manager for the maritime line of business Wouter Deknopper.
“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.”
Training packs can be downloaded by visiting the Iridium GMDSS Academy, along with educational videos and background information about Iridium GMDSS, including related case studies, terminal unboxing and installation tutorials.
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