The third meeting of the Intersessional Working Group (IWG) of the Assembly of Parties of the International Mobile Satellite Organisation (IMSO) was held on 3-6 February at its headquarters in London, where the participants were unable to reach consensus on expanding the IMSO mandate or on the need to amend its Convention to that end.
The IWG was specifically set up by the IMSO Assembly to study Denmark?s proposal to extend the organisation?s mandate to new satellite mobile communications GMDSS (Global Maritime Distress and Safety System) service operators that are alternative to the privatised incumbent Inmarsat (International Maritime Satellites), or to other fields such as aeronautics.
The USA and Russia expressed their total opposition to any modification. Despite some work on systematising the potential modifications effected, the impasse will be reported to the 17th session of the IMSO Assembly, which should be held on 18-22 October 2004 at its headquarters in London.
During the meeting, and on the occasion of his presentation to IMSO, the new Inmarsat Board chairman, Andrew Sukawaty, announced that the company?s next generation of satellites would be launched in October 2004. He explained that the new satellite generation will ensure the extension of Inmarsat services beyond 2017, particularly GMDSS, which is vital for navigation safety. Sukawaty succeeds Richard Vos, who had headed the company since its privatisation in 1999.