GMDSS Service Updates
Bringing crews truly global safety-at-sea services
Iridium® GMDSS enhances crew safety and wellbeing, offering reliable coverage where no other options exist.
This page includes the latest details on various product and service approvals from regulatory bodies around the world. Please check back as we continue to update this page with information about Iridium GMDSS.
Rescue Coordination Centers (RCC)
RCC Map
This map shows the initial geographic areas of responsibility for the RCCs that have them. The dark blue represents the area for RCC Atlantic Area Command, the lighter blue is for RCC Pacific Area Command.
About RCC
Iridium regularly provides updates to mariners regarding the status of the RCCs connected to Iridium GMDSS. It is important to know that the addition of new RCCs and Iridium Connected® GMDSS terminals to the system will be completed automatically as they come online.
Iridium Connected GMDSS terminal users should regularly check with their equipment supplier and this page to ensure they are up to date on any additions.
RCC Locations
Legend:
- RCC = Rescue Coordination Center
- JRCC = Joint Rescue Coordination Center
- MRCC = Maritime Rescue Coordination Center
| Rescue Coordination Center | Mode | Operational |
|---|---|---|
| RCC Atlantic Area Command - United States | Automatic | X |
| RCC Pacific Area Command - United States | Automatic | X |
| RCC Fareham - United Kingdom | Manual | X |
| RCC Stavanger - Norway | Manual | X |
| RCC New Zealand - New Zealand | Automatic | X |
| RCC Australia - Australia | Manual | X |
| JRCC Bodoe (North Norway) - Norway | Manual | X |
| JRCC Piraeus - Greece | Manual | X |
| MRCC Tórshavn - Faroe Islands | Manual | X |
| RCC Bremen - Germany | Manual | X |
| JRCC Larnaca - Cyprus | Manual | X |
| MRCC Riga - Latvia | Manual | X |
| RCC Argentina - Argentina | Manual | X |
| RCC Rabat - Morocco | Manual | X |
| MRCC Cape Town - South Africa | Manual | X |
| JRCC Halifax (Atlantic Region) - Canada | Manual | X |
| MRSC St John’s - Canada | Manual | X |
| RCC Madrid - Spain | Manual | X |
| JRCC Tahiti - French Polynesia | Manual | X |
| JRCC Victoria (Pacific Region) - Canada | Manual | X |
| MRCC Fort De France - France | Manual | X |
| JRCC Trenton (Central & Arctic Canada) - Canada | Manual | X |
| RCC Noumea - New Caledonia | Manual | X |
NOTE: RCCs throughout the world are all connected and routinely communicate to support and assist one another in search-and-rescue (SAR) operations. For example, emergency communications from around the world are routinely dealt with by the U.S. Coast Guard RCCs, who then work with a local RCC to deploy SAR assets, regardless of the distressed vessel’s location.
Automatic Mode – Iridium GMDSS equipment has the ability to select an RCC (for emergency communications) either automatically or manually. When in automatic mode, the terminal will automatically select an RCC based on their geographic area of responsibility for the RCCs in the system.
Manual Mode – Some RCCs do not have a geographic area of responsibility. However, the terminal user can select any specific RCC (in the Iridium GMDSS) for the terminal to always communicate with (regardless of location of the terminal). Manual mode will override the terminal’s Automatic features and send emergency communications to the selected RCC by default.
GMDSS Equipment
Type Approvals & All Flags
SOLAS-class vessel owners and operators who want to use Iridium GMDSS to comply with their GMDSS requirements need to ensure that the Iridium Connected equipment they plan to use is Type Approved by their Flag State. For a list of Flag States and their equipment authorization statuses for the Lars Thrane LT-3100S GMDSS System (pictured above) and the current list of all flags using Iridium GMDSS, visit the Iridium GMDSS Library. We continue to update this information as it becomes available, but vessel owners/operators should check with their Flag administration for the most up-to-date information, as we expect the number of Flag States approving this equipment to continue to grow.
Iridium SafetyCast®
MSI Broadcast
Maritime Safety Information (MSI) is designed to keep mariners informed of dangerous conditions or circumstances that could endanger their safety. A global network of MSI providers regularly sends out MSI via NAVTEX (shore-based broadcast systems) and EGC (Enhanced Group Call, satellite-based broadcast systems) to assist mariners to avoid various dangers and stay aware of conditions. MSI comes in two main components: Navigational Information (i.e., failure of navigational lights or submerged obstruction in a shipping channel) and Meteorological Information (i.e., regular weather forecasts and warning information, including notification of major weather events).
The Iridium EGC service, Iridium SafetyCast, is a broadcast system that can send MSI to vessels anywhere in the world. This is the first system with such a capability and free of charge to the vessel.
Other broadcast information that can be sent through Iridium SafetyCast includes the following SAR (RCCs), Anti-Piracy, and Ice Reports.
With a valid connection, a mariner’s Iridium Connected GMDSS terminal receives information for new areas once the associated MSI providers commence broadcasting. Below is the status of the connection for each provider (by NAVAREA or METAREA) to Iridium GMDSS.
*The Iridium network is capable of broadcasting MSI through Iridium SafetyCast anywhere in the world. For METAREAS/NAVAREAS that have not yet opted into sharing data with Iridium, information may not be available at this time.
METAREAs
| Area | Country | Attended Training Session | Completed Agreement | Sending Information to Iridium (Operational or Test Data) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| METAREA I | United Kingdom | ✔ | ✔ | ✔ |
| METAREA II | France | |||
| METAREA III | Greece | ✔ | ✔ | ✔ |
| METAREA IV | US | ✔ | ✔ | ✔ |
| METAREA V | Brazil | |||
| METAREA VI | Argentina | ✔ | ✔ | ✔ |
| METAREA VII | South Africa | ✔ | ✔ | |
| METAREA VIII | India | ✔ | ||
| Mauritius | ✔ | ✔ | ||
| METAREA IX | Pakistan | ✔ | ✔ | ✔ |
| METAREA X | Australia | ✔ | ✔ | ✔ |
| METAREA XI | Japan | ✔ | ✔ | ✔ |
| China | ✔ | ✔ | ✔ | |
| METAREA XII | United States of America | ✔ | ✔ | ✔ |
| METAREA XIII | Russian Federation | ✔ | ✔ | |
| METAREA XIV | New Zealand | ✔ | ✔ | ✔ |
| METAREA XV | Chile | ✔ | ✔ | ✔ |
| METAREA XVI | Peru | ✔ | ✔ | ✔ |
| METAREA XVII | Canada | ✔ | ✔ | ✔ |
| METAREA XVIII | Canada | ✔ | ✔ | ✔ |
| METAREA XIX | Norway | ✔ | ✔ | ✔ |
| METAREA XX | Russian Federation | ✔ | ✔ | |
| METAREA XXI | Russian Federation | ✔ | ✔ |
NAVAREAs
| Area | Country | Attended Training Session | Completed Agreement | Sending Information to Iridium (Operational or Test Data) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| NAVAREA I | UK | ✔ | ✔ | ✔ |
| NAVAREA II | France | ✔ | EXPIRED | ✔ |
| NAVAREA III | Spain | ✔ | ✔ | ✔ |
| NAVAREA IV | US | ✔ | ✔ | ✔ |
| NAVAREA V | Brazil | |||
| NAVAREA VI | Argentina | |||
| NAVAREA VII | South Africa | ✔ | ✔ | |
| NAVAREA VIII | India | ✔ | ✔ | ✔ |
| NAVAREA IX | Pakistan | ✔ | ✔ | ✔ |
| NAVAREA X | Australia | ✔ | ✔ | ✔ |
| NAVAREA XI | Japan | ✔ | ✔ | |
| NAVAREA XII | United States of America | ✔ | ✔ | ✔ |
| NAVAREA XIII | Russian Federation | ✔ | ✔ | |
| NAVAREA XIV | New Zealand | ✔ | ✔ | ✔ |
| NAVAREA XV | Chile | ✔ | ✔ | ✔ |
| NAVAREA XVI | Peru | ✔ | ✔ | ✔ |
| NAVAREA XVII | Canada | ✔ | ✔ | ✔ |
| NAVAREA XVIII | Canada | ✔ | ✔ | ✔ |
| NAVAREA XIX | Norway | ✔ | ✔ | ✔ |
| NAVAREA XX | Russian Federation | ✔ | ✔ | |
| NAVAREA XXI | Russian Federation | ✔ | ✔ |
Want more information?
Get In Touch With Our Team
