Thales Systems Canada (Thales Systems), Ottawa, Ontario today announced a $1.2 million contract to deliver a maritime communications system to Telecommunications Services of Trinidad and Tobago Limited (TSTT). The system will provide a Global Maritime Distress and Safety System (GMDSS) for Trinidad and Tobago, and the eastern Caribbean.

Thales Systems is a world leader in communications systems technology noted Norman Smyth, President of Thales Systems. This contract demonstrates our export competitiveness. I am delighted we will have the opportunity to deliver an advanced system that will make a major contribution toward increasing maritime safety in the Caribbean.

This contract demonstrates TSTT’s continued commitment to providing the most modern and effective communications systems and services possible. With this project, TSTT is providing a GMDSS capability which will alert authorities to emergency situations in coastal waters and assist in the rapid coordination of a rescue response.

GMDSS relies on new digital communications technology and satellites to warn of emergencies at sea. It was adopted by the International Maritime Organization (IMO), a United Nations agency with responsibility for ship safety. Individual countries and ship owners are required to install GMDSS systems in accordance with the International Convention for the Safety of Life at Sea (SOLAS).

GMDSS provides 911 for ships. In the event of an emergency, an automatic distress message and locating signal is transmitted to shore-based authorities and nearby ships. This increases the ability of authorities to rapidly detect emergencies, locate ships in distress, and engage in rescue operations. As a result, ships are safer at sea and lives are protected.

The system being delivered to TSTT will consist of a communications control centre and five radio sites. These sites will be strategically located around the islands of Trinidad and Tobago to maximize the signal range and coverage of the system. The communications service will extend approximately 40 nautical miles from the coast and will operate at Very High Frequency (VHF). Digital Selective Calling (DSC) will be incorporated to provide automated radio watchkeeping on distress and calling channels. The system will also provide telephone connectivity between ships at sea and the public telecommunications system operated by TSTT.

Thales Systems is an engineering and systems integration company which designs, develops, and delivers turnkey communications systems. In addition to supplying GMDSS communications technology for the Canadian Coast Guard and global market, the company has supplied maritime communications systems to the Canadian Navy and upgraded NORAD’s long-range Arctic communications system. The company is a subsidiary of Thales in Paris, France. Thales had revenues of $10 billion in 1998 and employs 50,000 people. It is the world’s third largest supplier of electronics technology for the government market.

Telecommunications Services of Trinidad and Tobago Limited (TSTT) is a joint venture company, 51% owned by the Government of Trinidad and Tobago and 49% owned by Cable and Wireless (West Indies) Limited. It provides a broad range of telecommunications services that include basic telephone service, digital cellular telephony, internet service, and high-speed data and multi-media transmissions over optic undersea cables. The company employs over 2,700 professional staff.