When I think about maritime safety, I think about people experiencing the worst day of their lives in a maritime distress and the profound impact it has on their families and friends.

 

At sea, safety has always depended on reliable communications: how quickly a crew can call for help? and how effectively that help can respond?

 

Early systems, from Morse code to radio, were limited in both reach and reliability. Following major maritime tragedies, the global community, led by the United Nations’ International Maritime Organization (IMO), recognized the need for a more dependable, long-range solution. This vision led to the creation of Inmarsat and the Global Maritime Distress and Safety System (GMDSS).

 

Having spent thirteen years as part of the Maritime Safety team at Inmarsat/Viasat, I am immensely proud to have contributed to the organization that pioneered global life-saving services for mariners. By leveraging satellite technology, we have connected vessels and seafarers in distress to a worldwide network of Rescue Coordination Centers (RCCs). Over time, GMDSS has established two critical capabilities: immediate distress alerting and the proactive broadcast of Maritime Safety Information, together forming a global safety net for seafarers everywhere.

 

However, technology alone does not save lives.

 

I have seen how quickly routine voyages can turn into emergencies, and how delays in coordination, or the absence of GMDSS equipment, can have tragic consequences. These experiences have shaped our commitment to go beyond regulatory requirements, continuously improving real-time response, coordination, and support for both seafarers and RCCs.

 

As part of this ongoing effort, we have listened closely to the needs of mariners and rescue services. This has led to the development of award-winning solutions such as RescueNET, alongside enhancements to our SafetyNET II service, enabling RCCs to collaborate more effectively and coordinate live search and rescue operations.

 

Looking ahead, the next evolution of maritime safety lies in transforming information, moving beyond static, text- based alerts toward real-time, visual, and data-driven insights. These advancements will empower crews to act faster and help prevent incidents before they occur.

 

Ultimately, maritime safety is not just about systems and services, it is about protecting lives at sea. Our role is to continue advancing the technology, coordination, and accessibility required to make that protection more effective for every seafarer, everywhere.