L-3 Enters Agreement With KMSS

L-3 Communications' Aviation Recorders division has entered into an agreement with Kongsberg Maritime Ship Systems (KMSS) as the sole source supplier of Hardened Voyage Recorders (HVR) for its new Maritime Black Box (MBB). The agreement provides L-3 Communications with the opportunity to provide its HVR to KMSS for installations on both new builds and existing vessels. Under this contract, L-3 will provide its 12-hour, solid state HVR for inclusion into KMSS's MBB system. The MBB and HVR meet the requirements specified in the International Maritime Organization's (IMO) SOLAS Chapter V, according to the standard set out in the International Electrotechnical Commission's (IEC) specification 61996, for a fully IMO compliant Voyage Data Recorder (VDR) System. "We are pleased to enter this agreement as the exclusive provider of HVRs to Kongsberg Maritime Ship Systems. Going forward, we expect our market position in this key industry to expand as the maritime industry focuses more of its efforts on the increased safety of ocean going cargo vessels," said Bruce Coffey, president of L-3 Communications' Aviation Recorders. "This is a $500 million market and because of our expertise in recorders we have the leverage to capitalize on the thousands of ships that will require an HVR in the future." Similar to the Cockpit Voice Recorder (CVR) and Flight Data Recorder (FDR) used in commercial airlines, L-3's HVR records voice, radar, radio, and shipboard performance data on a solid state memory housed in a crash-protected capsule. Fitted with an underwater locator beacon, the capsule is designed to withstand the harsh environments of ocean going passenger ships, ferries, and large cargo ships, including those associated with an accident, such as impact, deep sea pressure and fire. L-3 is a recognized leader in the fabrication of FDRs and CVRs, having supplied more than 50,000 recorders to commercial airline operators and aircraft manufacturers in its 44 year history. L-3's HVR meets the requirements of the IMO's resolution A.861(120) and the IEC's specification 61996. These requirements mandate that passenger ships, ro-ro ferries and cargo vessels traveling on international voyages must be equipped with a voyage data recording system. The HVR is also certified and accepted by BSH, a German marine regulatory agency, and DERA, a U.K. marine regulatory agency. KMSS offers maritime automation and navigation applications focusing on safety and efficiency to meet the needs for the merchant marine community. KMSS is a leading supplier of totally integrated ship control systems, including simulators for the merchant fleet worldwide. KMSS has the technical experience and the know-how to deliver complete technical solutions from sensors to integrated ship control systems.