CHARLOTTESVILLE, VA - The new P&O cruise ship Aurora, which entered service this year, was fitted with a suite of navigation and steering control systems supplied by C. Plath, a Litton Marine Systems company.

The scope of equipment supplied by C. Plath included a Navigat 2100 fiber optic gyrocompass, Navigat X MK 1 gyrocompass, magnetic compass, Navitwin III compass monitor and control, Navipilot AD II adaptive autopilot, Naviprint voyage data printer, Naviknot III electromagnetic speed log, digital and analog self-synchronizing repeaters and the ship's main steering system. The complex dual rudder steering system, which includes both non-follow-up and electric shaft steering, involved extensive engineering. C. Plath also provided installation, commissioning, service and training.

The Aurora was christened on April 27 by The Princess Royal at Southampton following its delivery from Meyer Werft shipyard. The 270 m 76,000 grt ship carries up to 1,950 passengers and 850 crew. It is registered in the United Kingdom and classed by Lloyd's Register.

Litton Marine Systems Inc. (LMS) is a subsidiary of Litton Industries Inc. LMS was formed from the consolidation of Sperry Marine (Charlottesville, Virginia, USA), Decca Marine (New Malden, UK) and C. Plath (Hamburg, Germany). LMS manufactures and markets products under the Sperry, Decca and C. Plath brand names. With offices in 19 countries and authorized service depots in more than 300 locations worldwide, LMS provides "One Source" for marine navigation, communication and information systems, products and service.

Litton Industries, headquartered in Woodland Hills, California, is a $4.4 billion diversified technology company with over 40,000 employees worldwide. The company is a leader in navigation; guidance and control; electronic warfare; command, control and communications systems; information technology and shipbuilding and overhaul for government and commercial markets worldwide. Litton's Ingalls and Avondale shipyards together make up the largest builder of non-nuclear ships for the U.S. Navy and other customers.