IMSO Visit to the European Maritime Safety Agency

The Director General of the International Mobile Satellite Organization (IMSO), Laurent Parenté, visited the European Maritime Safety Agency in Lisbon for a high-level meeting with the Executive Director, Ms Maja Markovčić Kostelac and the technical team responsible for operating the European LRIT Data Centre and the International Exchange. The IMSO delegation included Halil Keskin, Head of Operational Services, and Pier-Giovanni Taranti, Deputy Head of Department.

The meeting provided an opportunity to review IMSO’s functions and to discuss the specific role of the Long-Range Identification and Tracking (LRIT) system within the IMO regulatory framework.

LRIT, established under SOLAS regulation V/19-1, enables the secure exchange of ship identity and position data between Contracting Governments for maritime safety and security purposes. As a regulated and closed system, LRIT offers a unique, non-commercial source of accountable and reliable information.

Discussions also addressed the current use of LRIT by EMSA and its Member States, including how the system could evolve to meet emerging operational, financial and technological needs and challenges in support of enhanced maritime domain awareness.

In addition to a set of technical discussions regarding IMSO’s work in auditing the LRIT, EMSA provided a detailed technical demonstration at the Maritime Support Services Centre. The presentation showed how data from various sources, including AIS terrestrial, AIS satellite and LRIT, are combined to support maritime monitoring activities with LRIT as an essential and reliable tool for ships identification and position.

The visit highlighted both the continuing operational value of LRIT and the potential for wider use by maritime administrations.