Marecs B2 is being put into retirement

ESA's two Marecs were Europe's first maritime communications satellites. Launched in December 1981 and November 1984, they served with Inmarsat until mid-1991 and end-1996, respectively, providing maritime users with reliable voice, telex, fax and data links. With 5-year design lives, Marecs-A retired in 1991, but Marecs-B2 in 1998 continued providing services leased to Italy's Nuovo Telespazio.