The EU Council has submitted draft amendments to the International Maritime Organization (IMO) proposing the Galileo Two-Way Communication (TWC) service as an optional functionality for Emergency Position Indicating Radio Beacons (EPIRBs). The proposal, contained in a Commission staff working document dated 30 July 2026, will be presented to the IMO Sub-Committee on Navigation, Communications and Search and Rescue (NCSR 13), scheduled for 22-26 June 2026. The amendments target IMO Resolution MSC.471(101) and SOLAS Chapter IV, aiming to enhance maritime distress communication by enabling bidirectional exchange between rescue coordination centres and activated beacons via the Galileo Return Link Service, which typically confirms detection within one minute.
Source📄 Open document ↗