NISHINOMIYA, Japan - Furuno Electric Co. Ltd. has introduced the SOLION-100, a maritime safety communications terminal based on Iridium Certus 100 that combines Global Maritime Distress and Safety System (GMDSS), Ship Security Alert System (SSAS), and Long-Range Identification and Tracking (LRIT) capabilities in a single platform.

The terminal is designed for both newbuild and retrofit vessels and provides access to Iridium's low-Earth-orbit satellite network for maritime safety communications. The Iridium Certus network provides global coverage, including polar regions, and uses L-band satellite communications for connectivity at sea. The Certus 100 service class supports data communications at rates up to 88 Kbps.

For GMDSS operations, the SOLION-100 receives Maritime Safety Information through Iridium SafetyCast, including navigational and meteorological warnings. The terminal also provides distress alerting and Safety Voice communications with a Rescue Coordination Center (RCC). A dedicated distress function transmits the vessel's identification, status, and position to support emergency response, while the Safety Voice connection enables crew members and rescue authorities to exchange additional information about an incident.

The integrated SSAS capability provides a separate maritime security function, while LRIT supports vessel identification and tracking for regulatory and operational purposes. Combining the three capabilities in one terminal can reduce the number of separate satellite communications systems required aboard a vessel.

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

For more information, visit https://www.furuno.com.