• The International Mobile Satellite Organization was established in 1979 under the auspices of the International Maritime Organization (IMO).
  
• IMSO Functions relating to both GMDSS (Global Maritime Distress and Safety Services) and LRIT (Long Range Identification and Tracking of Ships) are based on SOLAS (IMO Convention on the Safety of Life at Sea) Regulations, and are therefore closely linked with the interests of SOLAS Contracting Parties.
  
• Membership of IMSO does not incur any costs or financial commitments for Member States, as the budget of the Organization is funded through contributions from the companies that provide public satellite communication services.
   
• Member States do not assume any liability in their capacity as Members of IMSO, as Article 13 of the IMSO Convention specifically provides that "Parties are not, in their capacity as such, liable for the acts and obligations of the Organization or the Providers".
  
• To become Member State of IMSO, a State should ratify, accept, approve or accede to the Convention on the International Mobile Satellite Organization, as amended in 2006, which entered into force on a provisional basis from 7 March 2007, by depositing the appropriate instrument of ratification, acceptance, approval, or accession with the Secretary-General of the International Maritime Organization (IMO) who acts as Depositary of the Convention.
  
• The entry into force of the Convention for a new Member State will take place from the day in which the instrument of ratification, acceptance, approval, or accession is deposited with the Depositary of the Convention.
  
• A Member State may subsequently proceed to ratify, accept, approve or accede to the revised Protocol on the Privileges and Immunities of the International Mobile Satellite Organization by depositing with the Director of IMSO the appropriate instrument of ratification, acceptance, approval, or accession.
  
• The entry into force for the Member State of the Protocol on the Privileges and Immunities of the International Mobile Satellite Organization will take place 30 days after the instrument of ratification, acceptance, approval, or accession is deposited with the Director of IMSO.

WHEREAS the Convention on the International Maritime Satellite Organization (Inmarsat), done at London on 3 September 1976, pursuant to Article 33, paragraph (1) thereof, entered into force on 16 July 1979;

WHEREAS the restructuring amendments to the Convention entered into force on 31 July 2001, in which, inter alia, the name of the Organization became the International Mobile Satellite Organization (IMSO);

NOW THEREFORE, I, _______________________ [NAME], Minister for _________________________ [NAME OF MINISTRY] of ______________________ [STATE] have signed this Instrument of Accession to the Convention on the International Mobile Satellite Organization (IMSO) on this _______________________ day of ____________________ of the year ___________________.