SRT Marine Systems PLC said on Friday it has won a fishing boat monitoring contract from a United Nations agency as part of an initiative to curb piracy in Somalia.
SRT will supply specialist automatic identification system Class B transceivers and communication devices, satellite AIS data and a vessel tracking display system to the United Nations Food and Agriculture Organisation.
The UN project is supported by the Counter Piracy Trust Fund, which supports initiatives of countries countering Piracy off the coast of Somalia.
The London-listed company said the equipment supply element of the deal will be completed this financial year with the supply of S-MDA satellite AIS data ongoing.
The system will be used to enhance safety at-sea and fight piracy activities, as well as tracking and monitoring small local fishing boats in Somalia and assist with safety and prevention of illegal, unregulated and unlicensed fishing.
SRT said its AIS Class B transponders are designed for deployment on small fishing boats and are enabled with SAT-Trak technology which enables their transmissions to be received and relayed by satellites equipped with AIS receivers to the monitoring station.
“SRT have been the global leaders in AIS technologies, products and systems for over a decade,” SRT Chief Executive Simon Tucker said.
“Whilst a small project, we are delighted to have the opportunity to work with the United Nations Food and Agriculture Organisation to help another nation build their maritime domain awareness and management capabilities,” Tucker added.
