(Marine NewsWire) Defense and security company Saab, the world leader in maritime Automatic Information Systems (AIS) technology, was in November awarded a 116 MSEK (approximately 12,2 Million EUR) contract from the India Directorate General of Lighthouses and Lightships (DGLL) to deploy a coastal surveillance system covering the entire Indian mainland coast.
The national coastal surveillance system will encompass 74 sensor locations, six regional control centers and three national control centers, most which will be connected by broadband satellite links. The contract includes options to add another 12 sensor sites in the future.
The sensor sites will be equipped with redundant Saab AIS base stations that will identify and track the movements of ships sailing in India’s coastal waters. Saab will also deliver the network servers and CoastWatch operator software for the control centers. The system will integrate radars being supplied by another contractor.
Saab is the prime contractor for the project, which includes supply, installation, integration, commissioning, training and technical support. The work is scheduled to be completed in mid-2012.
Saab’s sales and service partner in India, Elcome Marine Services, will play a key role in all aspects of system deployment. Based in Mumbai, Elcome has branch offices in major seaports around the country.
“This will be one of the largest national AIS-based coastal surveillance systems ever to be deployed,” said Gunnar Mangs, vice president, sales and marketing of Saab business area Security and Defense Solutions.
“Winning this contract, which was competitively bid, is an important validation of Saab’s position as the technology leader in AIS base stations and networks worldwide.”
“The national coastal surveillance network will greatly enhance maritime security and navigation safety in India’s coastal waters,” said Captain S. S. Grewal, Managing Director at Elcome. “We look forward to working closely with Saab to bring this impressive system to completion over the next 18 months.”
Gunnar Mangs noted that Saab is expanding its presence in Asia. Earlier this year, the company was awarded a contract to supply a 150-site AIS network covering six major inland waterways in China.
Saab is recognized as one of the leading suppliers of products and systems related to maritime security, covering the whole range from small individual port solutions to national coastal surveillance networks. Saab was an early pioneer in maritime AIS technology, and has supplied more than 16,000 AIS ship transponders and 1,800 AIS base stations around the world.