The widespread adoption and integration of Global Maritime Distress and Safety System (GMDSS) onto Safety of Life at Sea (SOLAS) regulated vessels shows the maritime transportation industry’s desire for dependable and cost-effective safety communications wherever vessels trade.

Such was the case for Siem Shipping, who sought a new safety solution for the Siem Confucius, a 200-meter, 7,500-revenue-ton car carrier.

“Our operating fees and costs for the previous GMDSS system were increasing, with no additional benefits for the fleet,” said Karol Chudzicki, Siem Shipping Vice President Technical. “Siem needs efficiency with our fleet’s communications costs, especially for regulatory services.”

Lars Thrane delivers a turnkey Iridium maritime safety solution for SOLAS-class vessels like the Siem Confucius, incorporating GMDSS, Long-Range Identification and Tracking (LRIT), Ship Security Alert System (SSAS), and commercial services into a single terminal.

Iridium GMDSS also includes Iridium SafetyCast^®, which delivers important navigational and meteorological information to Iridium GMDSS-equipped vessels.

The adoption of Iridium GMDSS not only underscores Siem Shipping’s commitment to the safety of its crews, but also their desire to integrate disparate safety systems into a single terminal.

“Across the maritime industry, we are seeing a shift toward Iridium GMDSS,” said Wouter Deknopper, Iridium Vice President and General Manager, Maritime. “Shipping fleets require a premium safety system that is not only dependable but also cost-efficient. The feedback from the industry is consistent: Iridium GMDSS delivers turnkey premium safety services at a reduced operating cost compared to the legacy provider.”