RECALLING Article 28(b) of the Convention on the International Maritime Organization
concerning the functions of the Committee,
RECALLING ALSO regulation IV/4-1 of the International Convention for the Safety of Life
at Sea (SOLAS), 1974, as amended, concerning Global Maritime Distress and Safety
System (GMDSS) satellite providers, which requires that the Committee shall determine
the criteria, procedures and arrangements for the evaluation, recognition, review and
oversight of the provisions of mobile satellite communication services in the GMDSS
pursuant to the provisions of SOLAS
chapter IV,
RECALLING IN PARTICULAR the Criteria for the provision of mobile satellite communication
systems in the global maritime distress and safety system (GMDSS) (resolution A.1001(25)) by which the Assembly adopted the criteria and
requirements for mobile satellite communication services being designed for use in the
GMDSS,
RECALLING FURTHER the Guidance to prospective GMDSS satellite service providers (MSC.1/Circ.1414) with respect to the provisions of resolution A.1001(25),
NOTING that:
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(a) the Iridium Safety Voice, Short-Burst data and enhanced group calling
services conform with all the criteria specified in the annex to resolution A.1001(25),
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(b) the charging policies and provisions of resolution A.707(17), as
amended, on Charges for distress, urgency and safety messages through the
Inmarsat system, are complied with,
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(c) there is a well-founded confidence that Iridium Satellite LLC will remain
viable for the foreseeable future and will remain in a position to deliver the
required services over an extended period, in keeping with the expectations of
the Organization and the maritime industry as to the continuity, durability and
reliability of the service,
NOTING ALSO:
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(a) its decision, at the eighty-second session, that the oversight of future
satellite service providers in the GMDSS should be undertaken by the
International Mobile Satellite Organization (IMSO),
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(b) that Iridium Satellite LLC is ready to submit its Safety Voice, Short-Burst
data and enhanced group calling services to oversight by IMSO and sign the
required Public Services Agreement (PSA) with that organization,
HAVING CONSIDERED, at its ninety-ninth session, the report of the Sub-Committee on
Navigation, Communications and Search and Rescue, at its fifth session,
1 RECOGNIZES the maritime mobile satellite services provided by the Iridium Safety Voice,
Short-Burst data and enhanced group calling services, for use in the GMDSS;
2 REQUESTS the Secretary-General to provide a copy of this resolution to IMSO.