Jan De Nul will retrofit its fleet by installing Lars Thrane terminals to use Iridium’s Global Maritime Distress and Safety System (GMDSS) for emergency communications
Iridium GMDSS is the latest global GMDSS solution, enabling rapid safety-of-life response to mariners in distress and is the only GMDSS service to currently offer integrated voice services, enabled by its low Earth orbit (LEO) satellite network.
Jan De Nul owns and operates a large, versatile fleet of dredging and offshore installation vessels.
Its fleet ensures maritime navigational safety by maintaining the depth of rivers, canals and port entrances and its vessels assist in offshore developments, expanding existing ports and building new ones.
Lars Trane’s LT-3100S terminals will provide L-band connectivity with Iridium’s LEO satellites for GMDSS, global IMO-mandated long-range identification and tracking (LRIT) and ship security alert system (SSAS) communications.
By adopting Iridium GMDSS, Jan De Nul is continuing its commitment to ensure the safest operating environment possible for its personnel.
“We plan to roll out Iridium GMDSS in all retrofits and newly built vessels,” said Jan De Nul communication and network officer Nils Crabeel. “Having LRIT and SSAS alongside GMDSS in one terminal is an important advantage – for both safety and non-safety voice capabilities.”
LT-3100S can serve as the primary shipboard communications solution or solely as a SOLAS-required GMDSS system using Iridium satellites.
Iridium GMDSS provides maritime communications in emergencies and dissemination of maritime safety information (MSI) worldwide, including in Arctic and Antarctic waters.
“Iridium GMDSS has seen great success in the market due to its integrated, truly global capability, providing all three services – distress alert, safety voice and MSI, in one terminal,” said Iridium vice president of maritime Wouter Deknopper.
“Along with our Iridium Certus service, it has played a major role in our continued growth and leadership position for reliable maritime satellite communications.”
