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SafetyNET An international automatic direct-printing satellite based communications service for transmitting and receiving marine safety information with vessels underway worldwide. It is part of the Enhanced Group Call system of INMARSAT-C. In the U.S., SafetyNET is operated by COMSAT (U.S. Comsat Corporation), a private company that provides satellite communications from vessels to land based public telephone lines. COMSAT has two Coast Earth Stations (CES), one at Santa Paula, CA for access to the Pacific Satellite and one in Southburcy, CT for access to the Atlantic West satellite. COMSAT receives safety information from the USCG, NWS, and DMA, and then distributes it automatically to vessels via SafetyNet and the INMARSAT satellite system. Note that the same safety information is available over HF (SSB) radio, but the radio transmissions are dependent on atmospheric conditions, distance from the transmitting station, power output and angular coverage of the transmitter, not to mention the quality and maintenance of the shipboard equipment. They also require that an operator be standing by to handle the messages. With satellite communications, these limiting factors are reduced or eliminated. See INMARSAT.

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