International Mobile Satellite Organization facts for kids
The International Mobile Satellite Organization (IMSO) is an important group that helps keep ships safe at sea. It makes sure that satellite communication systems work well for the Global Maritime Distress and Safety System (GMDSS). This system helps ships send emergency signals from anywhere in the world. IMSO checks that companies like Inmarsat and Iridium provide good satellite services for ships.
History of IMSO
How INMARSAT Started
The International Maritime Satellite Organization (INMARSAT) was created to help ships communicate better. It was set up by the International Maritime Organization (IMO). A special agreement called the "Convention on the International Maritime Satellite Organization" was signed in London on September 3, 1976. This agreement officially started the organization on July 16, 1979.
INMARSAT was similar to another group called Intelsat. Intelsat helped countries talk to each other using satellites. A company called COMSAT, which helped start Intelsat, also played a big part in creating INMARSAT. In the 1980s, INMARSAT also started working with the International Civil Aviation Organization. They added new ways to improve communication for airplanes, especially for safety.
The first leader, called the Director General, started in January 1980. The organization began its work in 1982. Olof Lundberg was the Director General and CEO until 1995. He had a lot of experience with mobile communication services.
IMSO's New Role
In the mid-1990s, the countries that were part of INMARSAT had different ideas about its future. Many felt that the organization's business parts should become private companies. This was because the satellite communication world was becoming very competitive. Also, many countries did not want to spend more money to improve INMARSAT's network.
However, some still believed it was important for the organization to oversee satellite communication for ships. They found a solution in April 1998. They changed the "Convention on the International Mobile Satellite Organization." This change meant that INMARSAT's business operations would become a private company. The original organization would continue as a group that checks and regulates these services.
On April 15, 1999, INMARSAT officially became the International Mobile Satellite Organization (IMSO). At the same time, INMARSAT's business parts became a private company called Inmarsat Ltd.. This new private company, based in the UK, agreed to keep providing important public safety services. IMSO would watch over these services.
IMSO also signed an agreement with the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO) in Montreal, Canada, on September 20, 2000. This agreement explained how the two organizations would work together. As of November 2018, IMSO works with 103 countries. These countries represent about 95 percent of the world's merchant ships.
