Inmarsat rolls out distress service

摘要

Satcomms provider Inmarsat has rolled out its new non-Safety of Life at Sea (SOLAS) Voice Distress calling service. The first terminal manufacturer to carry the service is Thrane & Thrane, which has unveiled its new SAILOR 3771 Alarm Panel FleetBroadband terminal, specifically for the task. Targeting smaller, non-SOLAS commercial and recreational craft, the SAILOR 3771 provides users with an alarm panel featuring a red emergency button which, when activated, enables onboard personnel to override any non-urgent calls and establish a direct connection with an operator at one of three global maritime rescue coordination centres (MRCCs), situated in Australia, the Netherlands and the USA, in line with Inmarset's 1-4 satellite postioning. Distress calls are placed over Inmarsats FleetBroadband 150/250/500 services. The SAILOR 3771 was made commercially available in late May, at a list price of €375 (US$540).