Northrop Grumman Corporation (NYSE: NOC) announced today that its Sperry Marine business unit has received type approval from the Hellenic Ships Inspectorate of the Department of the Ministry of Merchant Marine for the VoyageMaster Voyage Data Recorder (VDR).

The type approvals certify that the VoyageMaster system meets or exceeds all specifications for shipboard VDR equipment to meet the International Maritime Organization carriage requirements, which come into effect July 1, 2002. After that date, all ro-ro passenger ships and new cargo ships over 3,000 gross tonnage must be fitted with an approved VDR system.

In addition to Greece, the VoyageMaster VDR has also been type approved by Det Norske Veritas in Norway, QinetiQ (formerly DERA) in the United Kingdom, BSH in Germany and the Croatian Register of Shipping.

Sperry Marine, with worldwide headquarters in Charlottesville, Va., is part of Northrop Grumman's Electronic Systems sector. The business unit provides smart navigation and ship control solutions for the international marine industry under the Sperry Marine, Decca and C. Plath brand names, with customer service and support through offices in 16 countries, sales representatives in 47 countries, and authorized service depots in more than 250 locations worldwide.

Headquartered in Baltimore, Md., Northrop Grumman Electronic Systems is a world leader in the design, development and manufacture of defense electronics systems including airborne radar systems, navigation systems, electronic warfare systems, precision weapons, airspace management systems, air defense systems, communications systems, space systems, marine systems, oceanic and naval systems, logistics systems, and automation and information systems.