Iridium Provided Satellite Communications for Ellen
MacArthur's World Record
Iridium
Satellite provided global satellite communication services
for Ellen MacArthur during her recent record-breaking
single-handed round-the-world sailing voyage.
MacArthur’s
high-speed trimaran was equipped with Iridium satellite
terminals as part of the integrated suite of satellite
communications systems, designed and installed by an
Iridium service provider.
The handheld Iridium phones provided
reliable two-way voice telephony and paging for MacArthur
throughout her voyage, even in extreme southern latitudes
where geostationary satellite systems are often unavailable.
Ellen MacArthur completed her 27,000-mile
solo circumnavigation in 71 days, 14 hours, 18 minutes,
breaking the former record by more than one day.
"An
Iridium phone was always in the abandon-ship ‘grab
bag’ in case of an emergency,” said Bruno
Gicquel, maritime operations director. “The Iridium
phones provided a perfect backup solution, especially
if a major electrical problem meant that the other communications
systems would not work.”
The
Iridium paging system permitted weather routers to notify
MacArthur of changing conditions or availability of
new weather data files without a sleep-interrupting
phone call.
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19
December 2005 
