From left, John Poyner, Tim Ingram and Chris Compton. Picture by Peter Boam.
SPECIALIST designers and manufacturers of marine navigation equipment, Marine Data Systems Ltd, has been awarded a contract by major French shipbuilder, DCNS.
The contract is to design and build special compass heading instruments, known as bearing repeaters, for the Barracuda submarine programme, scheduled to replace the French Navy’s Rubis-class nuclear-powered attack submarines with six new-generation submarines.
Chris Compton, managing director of Marine Data, said: "We are delighted to have won this prestigious contract after extensive discussions with the DCNS technical and procurement team.
"DCNS is a very important new customer for us and we are sure the successful completion of this work will lead to further military projects, using our products."
Marine Data Systems has extensive experience in the provision of electronic navigation and recently completed contracts with the Australian and Spanish navies’ S80 submarine programmes.
The company was established in 1978 and operates from the Vittlefields Technology Centre, Newport.
It occupies 2,500 sq ft of production assembly and environmental test areas and is a world leader in the development, manufacture and supply of marine navigation and control systems for commercial, military and leisure craft.
Reporter: martinn@iwcpmail.co.uk