The 73rd Session of the Cospas-Sarsat Council (CSC-73) was successfully held in Doha, Qatar, from October 20 to 23, 2025. The Vietnamese delegation to the meeting was led by Mr. Nguyen Dinh Viet – Deputy Director General of the Vietnam Maritime and Inland Waterways Administration, and included Mr. Phan Ngoc Quang – General Director of Vietnam Maritime Communication and Electronics LLC (VISHIPEL), representatives of the Ministry of Construction, and technical experts from the Administration and VISHIPEL.
During the session, the Council reviewed and approved a number of key issues related to the operation, technical management, and governance of the organization. Important agenda items included the approval of interconnection test results between space and ground segments, technical specifications for new types of beacons and services, and amendments to the organization’s operational and technical standards documentation. A notable highlight was the official recognition of the performance test results for the Second-Generation Beacon (SGB) 5m/s test conducted by Vietnam’s MEOLUT station, which met the required standards. This recognition also confirmed that Vietnam has successfully fulfilled the major requirement set out during CSC-72. The achievement was warmly applauded by participating countries, acknowledging the efforts and competence of the Vietnamese technical team.
The meeting also provided an opportunity for Vietnam to announce its roadmap for upgrading national infrastructure. During the interconnection testing session presented by the MCCs (Mission Control Centers), the Japan MCC highlighted the regional implementation plan, noting that Vietnam is in the process of replacing its MCC system.
Vietnam affirmed its readiness to begin interconnection testing of the new MCC from December 2025, with the full process expected to be completed within 2026 — a strategic step to ensure the compatibility and efficiency of the national search and rescue system.
In addition, the session emphasized outreach and public awareness of the Cospas-Sarsat system’s humanitarian mission. Delegates were shown images from Cospas-Sarsat Day, celebrated globally on September 10. Vietnam was honored that photos from the seminar organized by VISHIPEL on September 10, 2025, were featured during the event, helping to spread the humanitarian values of the system to the wider community.