Northrop Grumman has been awarded a contract to supply navigation bridge equipment for a series of 39,500-dwt dry bulk cargo ships being built in China for the China Navigation Company Pte. Ltd., Singapore, the deep sea shipping company of the Swire Group.

Under the contract with Chengxi Shipyard Co., Ltd., Northrop Grumman's Sperry Marine business unit will deliver four shipsets to the company's shipyard in Jiangyin, China, for installation.

Each shipset will include a complete integrated bridge system (IBS) with navigation sensors, a VisionMaster Total Watch radar and electronic chart display and information system (ECDIS).

The contract also includes an option for six additional shipsets. The system will be suitable for future integration of additional software features. Installation is expected to begin during 2013 at the Chengxi shipyard.

"Working with key technology suppliers such as Northrop Grumman Sperry Marine is important in keeping us at the forefront of innovation as we continue to upgrade our fleet," said Martin Cresswell, fleet director for the China Navigation Company.

"The advanced capabilities of our integrated navigation and bridge solution will provide these cargo ships with industry-leading ship control safety, as well as operational and environmental efficiency," said Alan Dix, managing director of Northrop Grumman Sperry Marine.

"We are pleased to be working with the China Navigation Company, which will enhance Northrop Grumman Sperry Marine's presence in the steadily growing shipping markets of the Far East."

This award brings Northrop Grumman Sperry Marine's support for the China Navigation Company to 12 confirmed orders with six options.

The two companies have had a productive working relationship in Asia since signing their first navigation systems contract in 2011 at the Ouhua Shipyard in Zhoushan, China, for eight 31,000-dwt multipurpose ships. The system being produced for the new vessels is the latest Sperry Marine IBS with Total Watch multifunctional workstation.

Sperry Marine is a business unit of Northrop Grumman's Naval and Marine Systems division. Headquartered in New Malden, U.K., with major engineering and support offices both in New Malden and in Hamburg, Germany, Northrop Grumman Sperry Marine provides smart navigation and ship control solutions for the international marine industry with customer service and support in numerous locations worldwide.