OSI Maritime Systems (OSI) has been selected to design integrated bridge and navigation subsystems for the Royal Canadian Navy’s (RCN) new class of arctic/offshore patrol ships (AOPS).
Under the contract, awarded by Lockheed Martin Canada, OSI will design the integrated bridge and navigation system for the new vessels.
Lockheed Martin Canada is one of AOPS prime contractor Irving Shipbuilding’s Tier 1 suppliers for the AOPS project as part of the Canadian Government’s national shipbuilding procurement strategy (NSPS).
OSI Maritime Systems president and chief executive officer Ken Kirkpatrick said the company aims to engage more Canadian suppliers to support the RCN’s AOPS programme.
Kirkpatrick said, "The RCN and AOPS crews will benefit tremendously from our highly automated and user-friendly bridge and navigation systems, which have been operationally successful in navies around the globe.
"The integrate bridge and navigation system is critical to the operation of AOPS, allowing safe navigation and enhanced situational awareness in the rugged environment of Canada’s far northern waters to its busy coastal regions."
The AOPS project intends to provide six to eight naval ice-capable offshore patrol ships to the Canadian Forces to assert and strengthen sovereignty in Canada’s waters.
With design work due to be completed in OSI’s Burnaby facility in Canada, the first arctic/offshore patrol ship, which is under construction by Irving Shipbuilding, is expected to be delivered to the Canadian Navy in 2018.
The AOPS will enable the Royal Canadian Navy to operate in offshore environments all throughout the year, while supporting missions including domestic surveillance, search-and-rescue and supporting other government departments.
