By: Nana
Appiah Acquaye
The International Mobile
Satellite Organization (IMSO) has commemorated the 50th anniversary of the
signing of the 1976 Convention establishing the International Maritime
Satellite Organization (INMARSAT), marking five decades of transformation and
international cooperation in maritime satellite communications.
The anniversary was marked
during the 30th Assembly of IMSO, under the auspices of the International
Maritime Organization (IMO). The Assembly welcomed Olof Lundberg, the first
Director General of INMARSAT, who addressed delegates as part of the commemoration.
His presence offered an
opportunity to bring together the origins of the Organization and its role
today, fifty years after the adoption of its founding Convention, IMSO said.
Originally established as an
intergovernmental satellite operator, INMARSAT was restructured in 1999, with
its commercial activities transferred to the private sector. IMSO continued its
intergovernmental mission of overseeing public-service obligations relating to
maritime satellite safety communications.
To mark the anniversary,
IMSO has released a commemorative video retracing the Organization’s history,
achievements and evolution over the past 50 years.
