Iridium to Conduct Maritime Communications Tests with Danish Authorities

[Satellite TODAY 09-09-10] Iridium Communications is collaborating with the Danish Maritime Safety Administration (DaMSA) to broadcast Maritime Safety Information (MSI) to ships in waters outside the coverage of terrestrial communication systems under Denmark’s EfficienSea pilot e-Navigation project, Iridium announced Sept. 8.
    Under the program, DaMSA will conduct shipboard tests of Iridium-based short-burst data devices for receiving and printing out MSI messages in the Baltic Sea Region and the waters around Greenland. The sea trials are scheduled to start later this month and will run through next year.
    Trident Sensors, an Iridium value-added manufacturer and reseller, will supply the shipboard device for the tests. Rock Seven, another Iridium reseller, will provide the software and infrastructure to support the MSI message transmissions.
    According to regional Global Maritime Distress and Safety System requirements, applicable ships must be equipped with a suite of mandatory radio and satellite communication equipment, including a Navtex receiver that prints out weather alerts and other safety messages sent from shore authorities.