Recognition of the pivotal role Fleet Safety is playing in modernising the Global Maritime Distress and Safety System (GMDSS) gathers momentum, as Inmarsat’s new maritime safety service scoops its second prestigious industry Award in as many weeks.
Inmarsat’s new Fleet Safety service has been named Best Safety Service of the Year in the prestigious IHS Safety at Sea Awards 2018 by a judging panel of recognised authorities in ship ownership, insurance, crewing and training.
The Best Safety Service Award celebrates developments that demonstrate both innovation and effectiveness in enhancing the safety of vessels and seafarers.
This year, the service accolade recognises the role Fleet Safety has played in enhancing safety at sea and its part in modernising the IMO’s Global Maritime Distress & Safety System (GMDSS).
Fleet Safety builds on Inmarsat’s maritime safety heritage, which has helped save the lives of countless seafarers over the last 40 years. 160,000 vessels worldwide already use the Inmarsat-C stand-alone safety service, which is provided at no charge by Inmarsat.
Accepting the accolade at a special Safety at Sea awards ceremony held at Le Méridien Piccadilly Hotel in London’s Mayfair, Inmarsat Senior Vice President Safety and Security Peter Broadhurst said: “This Award confirms that our industry is fully engaged with the step change in safety at sea that has been made available via Fleet Safety and in particular the two key service elements: SafetyNET II and RescueNET.”
SafetyNET II and RescueNET have already been used to save lives since their launch in 2017, including playing an instrumental role in the co-ordination of the rescue of a fishing vessel crew of six after they spent three days adrift 200 nautical miles off Tonga.
Continued Peter Broadhurst: “We are especially delighted that our contribution as a provider of services day in, day out has been rewarded, given that improving safety at sea was the mission that Inmarsat committed itself to at IMO on our foundation four decades ago and remains so today.”
