Marine Security Advisory: 04/2023 - Usage of Thuraya, Iridium and other such Satellite Communication Equipment in Indian Waters.

03 October 2023

MARINE SECURITY ADVISORY – 04/2023

(Supersedes Marine Operations Note 03/2012)

Subject: Usage of Thuraya, Iridium and other such Satellite Communication Equipment in Indian Waters.

The following changes have been included:

1. Usage of Iridium mobile satellite communication equipment considered in Indian waters subject to certain conditions.

Dear Owners/Operators/Company Security Officers/Masters:

Please refer to Order No. 09 of 2023 issued by the DG Shipping Office.

This Order is based on communication from the Ministry of Home Affairs, Govt. of India.

Under the GMDSS, the usage of Iridium Mobile Satellite communication equipment in the Indian Waters are considered subject to the below conditions.

• Merchant ships may install and keep the Iridium equipment active in Indian Territorial waters, provided the equipment is registered and certified as per the rules of the Liberian Flag and it is used exclusively onboard the ship and no portable Iridium sets may be carried onto Indian Land Territory.
• Iridium satellite equipment shall be used in GMDSS exclusively for Maritime Radiocommunications relating to Distress and Safety, Search and Rescue and for receiving Maritime Safety Information (MSI) from ship's fixed installations only.
• The ships transiting or visiting in Indian waters shall continue to declare IMEI number of the equipment in the Pre-Arrival Notification on Security (PANS).

Thuraya Satellite Equipment is not an integral part of Maritime Radiocommunication system under Global Maritime Distress and Safety Systems (GMDSS) and its usage continues to be prohibited is in Indian Waters.

Owners, Operators, Company Security Officers, Masters, and ship agents are mandatorily required to declare details of such satellite phones prior arrival into Indian Waters through the Pre-Arrival Notification on Security (PANS) systems.

For more information, please contact the Security Department at telephone + 1 703 790 3434; Email: security@liscr.com; or Duty Officer + 1 703 963 6216; Email: dutyofficer@liscr.com.

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