Convention on the International Mobile Satellite Organization (Inmarsat), As Amended

General Detail

General Information

  1. Type: Convention
  2. Date of signature:
  3. Place of signature: London, United Kingdom
  4. Depositary:
  5. Date of entry into force: 16/07/1979

Category

Transport and telecommunications

Sub category

Telecommunications

Groups

IMO

What is it about?

This Convention defines the purposes of the International Mobile Satellite Organization (Inmarsat) as being to improve maritime communications, thereby assisting in improving distress and safety of life at sea communications, the efficiency and management of ships, maritime public correspondence services, and radio determination capabilities. This Agreement does not apply to warships and other government ships operated for non-commercial purposes.

Why is it relevant?

The Inmarsat’s satellite system is used by more than 170 countries for maritime, aeronautical and land mobile applications. It was established principally to improve maritime communications and safety, but it has expanded into land, mobile and aeronautical communications.

Additional Information

There are four sets of amendments to this Convention. Upon entry into force, the amendments become binding upon all Parties and Signatories, including those which have not accepted them. - 1985 Amendments (London, 16/10/1985): These amendments enabled Inmarsat to provide services to aircraft as well as ships. They entered into force on 13 October 1989. - 1989 Amendments (London, 19/01/1989): These amendments enabled Inmarsat to provide services to landbased vehicles as well as ships and aircraft. They entered into force on 26 June 1997. - 1994 Amendments (London, 09/12/1994): One of these amendments modified the official name of Inmarsart from International Maritime Satellite Organization to the International Mobile Satellite Organization, still abbreviated as ‘Inmarsat.’ This modification is a result of the structural changes that have occurred in the Organization since it was created, mainly regarding the extension of its services from the maritime sector to other modes of transport. There were also changes regarding the composition of the Inmarsat Council. These amendments are not yet in force. - 1998 Amendments (London, 24/04/1998): In 1998, Inmarsat's Assembly of member Governments agreed to privatize Inmarsat from April 1999. The new structure comprises two entities: Inmarsat Plc., a public limited company which forms the commercial arm of Inmarsat and the International Mobile Satellite Organization (IMSO), an intergovernmental body established to ensure that Inmarsat continues to meet its public service obligations, including obligations relating to the Global Maritime Distress Safety System (GMDSS). IMSO replaces Inmarsat as observer at IMO meetings. These amendments entered into force on 31 July 2001.

  • Operating Agreement on the International Mobile Satellite Organization (Inmarsat), As Amended (London, 3 September 1976).

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Country ratifications
CountryRatification date
Algeria15/07/1979
Antigua and Barbuda12/10/2009
Argentina02/10/1979
Australia16/03/1979
Bahamas12/05/1994
Bahrain08/01/1986
Bangladesh17/09/1993
Belarus29/03/1979
Belgium14/07/1979
Bosnia and Herzegovina17/04/1998
Brazil10/07/1979
Brunei Darussalam04/10/1993
Bulgaria15/06/1979
Cameroon23/10/1990
Canada17/05/1979
Chile13/07/1979
China13/07/1979
Colombia28/10/1987
Comoros22/11/2000
Costa Rica05/06/1995
Croatia24/11/1992
Cuba25/07/1989
Cyprus08/06/1992
Czech Republic01/01/1993
Democratic People's Republic of Korea15/10/2013
Denmark10/05/1979
Ecuador11/11/2015
Egypt29/11/1977
Fiji08/03/2016
Finland12/07/1979
France18/10/1979
Gabon28/12/1984
Georgia12/01/2015
Germany23/10/1979
Ghana11/07/1995
Greece13/07/1979
Hungary24/07/1997
Iceland26/03/1991
India06/06/1978
Indonesia09/10/1986
Iran12/10/1984
Iraq21/07/1980
Israel13/10/1987
Italy10/07/1979
Japan25/11/1977
Jordan18/11/2014
Kenya21/07/1998
Kuwait25/02/1977
Latvia22/03/1995
Lebanon29/12/1994
Liberia14/11/1980
Libyan Arab Jamahiriya29/01/1999
Malaysia12/06/1986
Malta11/01/1991
Marshall Islands12/05/1997
Mauritius07/12/1992
Mexico10/01/1994
Monaco01/10/1990
Mongolia28/09/2011
Montenegro03/06/2006
Morocco04/08/1999
Mozambique18/04/1990
Netherlands15/06/1979
New Zealand17/08/1977
Nigeria23/02/1988
Norway10/10/1978
Oman30/12/1980
Pakistan06/02/1985
Palau29/09/2011
Panama26/10/1987
Peru30/10/1987
Philippines30/03/1981
Poland03/07/1979
Portugal13/07/1979
Qatar28/09/1987
Republic of Korea16/09/1985
Romania27/09/1990
Russian Federation13/03/1979
Saudi Arabia05/10/1983
Senegal16/06/1994
Serbia03/06/2006
Singapore29/06/1979
Slovakia20/07/1993
South Africa03/03/1994
Spain05/09/1978
Sri Lanka15/12/1981
Sweden19/06/1979
Switzerland17/05/1989
Thailand14/12/1994
Tonga18/12/2003
Tunisia09/05/1983
Turkey16/11/1989
Ukraine29/03/1979
United Arab Emirates13/01/1983
United Kingdom30/04/1979
United Republic of Tanzania21/12/1998
United States of America15/02/1979
Vanuatu20/08/2008
Venezuela27/04/2005
Viet Nam15/04/1998
Yemen24/01/2011
Treaties analysis
YearRatifications
19774
19783
197928
19803
19812
19833
19842
19852
19863
19875
19881
19893
19904
19912
19923
19934
19946
19953
19972
19984
19992
20001
20031
20051
20062
20081
20091
20113
20131
20141
20152
20161
Total104
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