Search and rescue assistance for vessels off the coast of Africa has been enhanced by the International Maritime Organization (IMO) with help from Inmarsat and three of its partners.

Two new regional search and rescue (SAR) centers will augment the coverage for the east coast of Africa and the Indian Ocean. The new centers, in Dar es Salaam, Tanzania, and Victoria in the Seychelles, add to the existing Maritime Rescue Co-ordination Centre (MRCC) in Mombasa, Kenya, first opened in May 2006. All three rescue centers were commissioned by the IMO's Secretary-General Efthimios Mitropoulos and transport ministers in each country.

Inmarsat manufacturer partners Thrane & Thrane, Japan Radio Company (JRC) and Nera (now owned by Thrane & Thrane) provided the necessary satellite equipment free of charge for all three centers. The MRCCs will use the Inmarsat C- or mini-C services, supplemented in each location with two Fleet F77 terminals. Inmarsat head of maritime safety services Brian Mullan was instrumental in co-ordinating the supply of the essential satellite communications equipment from the three manufacturers.

"Without the generous support of the Inmarsat manufacturers, it would have been extremely difficult for these three centers to have been equipped to such a high standard," said Brian. "They willingly co-operated with the request for practical support by the IMO's International Search and Rescue Fund. Their assistance is highly valued by the maritime community, which is fully familiar with their onboard equipment." Inmarsat's chief executive Andy Sukawaty also signed a five-year agreement in 2005 to support the IMO's International SAR fund with US$50,000.