Furuno unveils new SOLION-100 terminal for Iridium GMDSS

Iridium, a satellite service provider, and Furuno Electric have announced that Furuno will offer its new SOLION-100 terminal for Iridium GMDSS. This new Furuno maritime safety terminal is built on Iridium^® Certus 100 technology, which is optimised for small, low-power applications, and integrates GMDSS, Ship Security Alert System (SSAS) and Long-Range Identification and Tracking (LRIT) capabilities in a single platform.

Iridium GMDSS was launched in 2020 following recognition by the International Maritime Organization (IMO), becoming the first new provider of satellite GMDSS services since the system was established. It delivers regulated maritime distress and safety communications through Iridium's low-Earth orbit (LEO) satellite network, with global coverage, including the polar regions. The IMO requires each SOLAS vessel to be capable of transmitting and receiving GMDSS supported distress alerts via two separate and independent means.

Furuno's addition of Iridium GMDSS to its portfolio gives shipowners and shipyards greater choice in selecting maritime safety equipment for newbuild and retrofit vessels.

"The new SOLION-100 terminal for Iridium GMDSS allows us to strengthen our safety communications portfolio and provide customers with LEO satellite GMDSS technology alongside the Furuno navigation and communications systems they already rely on,” said Kiyoshi Furuno, Head of Marine Electronic Products Division and Sales Management Department General Manager, Furuno, in a statement.

Iridium Vice President and General Manager, Maritime Wouter Deknopper, said "together, we are giving shipowners and shipyards another way to equip vessels with reliable maritime safety communications, including in the polar regions."

Iridium GMDSS supports vessel crews throughout a maritime safety event, from receiving navigational and meteorological warnings to initiating a distress alert and establishing Safety Voice communications with a Rescue Coordination Center. A single-button distress alert transmits the vessel's identification, status and position, while Safety Voice enables crews to communicate directly with rescue authorities to provide additional information about the situation.

The SOLION-100 is expected to be commercially available for retrofit applications in late 2026, with availability for newbuild projects expected to follow in 2027.