Northrop Grumman Corporation’s (NYSE: NOC) Sperry Marine business unit has been selected by Novorossiysk Shipping Company (Novoship) to supply integrated bridge systems (IBS) for 10 new tankers being built in Korea and China.

The newbuilds include four 112,000 deadweight ton (dwt) tankers at Hyundai Heavy Industries in Korea and six 156,000 dwt tankers at Nantong Rongsheng in China, for delivery in 2008-2009. Each of the ships is being fitted with a complete navigation suite that includes radars, electronic chart display and information system, digital adaptive autopilot, steering controls, gyrocompasses, voyage data recorder, automatic identification system and other associated sensors and systems. All equipment meets or exceeds International Maritime Organization (IMO) performance standards.

“Novoship joins the growing number of shipowners to take advantage of our next-generation VisionMaster FT™ technology,” said J. Nolasco DaCunha, vice president, Sperry Marine. “Since their introduction in 2006, the VisionMaster FT products have clearly become the benchmark for marine navigation technology, in terms of system integration and human-machine interface.”

Novoship selected Sperry Marine as the single responsible supplier for the ships’ navigation and communication systems following a competitive analysis of IBS suppliers. The selection was based on Sperry Marine’s extensive experience and expertise, backed by worldwide availability of service and spares, according to a Novoship spokesman. Sperry Marine will provide engineering support for installation, commissioning and sea trials through its offices in Korea and China.

Novoship, a member of the Sovcomflot Group, is one of the largest shipping companies in the world, with a fleet of 52 vessels aggregating four million dwt. The current market value of the fleet is around USD $2.9 billion. Novoship’s modern tanker fleet has an average age of less than seven years. Novoship has a total of 16 new vessels on order representing 1.5 million dwt.