France Telecom Mobile Satellite Communications announces full availability of the Ship Security Alert System (SSAS) on Inmarsat-C and Mini-C

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France Telecom Mobile Satellite Communications has upgraded its land earth station in Aussaguel, France to ensure that its Inmarsat-C and Mini-C services are SSAS-compatible. The SSAS heightens security on board ship in the event of attack enabling captain or crew to send out a ‘covert’ alert and rapidly obtain assistance. With piracy and attacks at sea becoming increasingly widespread, the IMO (International Maritime Organization) has designated that all ships exceeding 500 tonnes must equip the SSAS by July 1, 2004.

The SSAS is a one-way, ship-to-shore security system available with compatible Inmarsat-C and Mini-C terminals. It enables crew on board to trigger an alert without the attackers knowledge thanks to a minimum of two activation points placed in strategic positions on the ship. The alert, with both the ships identity and position, is then transmitted via satellite by e-mail, telex or SMS to the ships flag state authority. The authority in turn requests for the nearest coastal emergency services to come to the ships assistance.

With the SSAS-compatible, reliable Mini-C terminal by Thrane & Thrane (Capsat TT-3000SSA), the ship owner can programme the addresses of three shipping authorities of his choice. France Telecom Mobile Satellite Communications charges no monthly fee for SSAS usage via this terminal. Alert messages are instead invoiced according to the format in which they are sent (e-mail, telex, SMS etc.) as with the standard Inmarsat-C service.

France Telecom Mobile Satellite Communications

France Telecom Mobile Satellite Communications is a France Telecom subsidiary marketing mobile satellite services (Inmarsat, Thuraya, Iridium). The business clientele has a strong proportion of customers in the maritime sector (navy, merchant navy, pleasure boating, cruises, fishing), media and NGO, security, construction, oil & gas and transportation sectors. In 2003, France Telecom Mobile Satellite Communications activities accounted for sales of 178.4 million euros (compared with 174 million euros in 2002 and 111 million euros in 2001). France Telecom Mobile Satellite Communications has a highly active distribution network abroad (100 distributors) and three subsidiaries (France Telecom Mobile Satellite Communications BV in the Netherlands, France Telecom Mobile Satellite Communications GmbH in Germany and TDCom in France).

France Telecom Mobile Satellite Communications has a global market share of 20% for Inmarsat (n°3 Inmarsat operator), 20% for Thuraya (n°1 Thuraya service operator) and 15% for Iridium (n°2 Iridium service operator).