13:25 GMT, November 23, 2009 DCNS has won a contract awarded by France's Department of Maritime Affairs (DAM*) to support the country's CROSS** maritime search & rescue centres.

The aim of the contract is to improve the search & rescue (SAR) efficiency of the CROSS centres by analysing maritime safety & security (MSS) situations in real time. The proposed Marylin system will improve coordination between French MSS entities, including DAM, the navy, police and civil security forces and customs.

"Marylin will give CROSS personnel quicker access to analyses of all available data concerning each SAR situation. It will also help to improve coordination and the exchange of information between first and later responders. The ultimate aim is to monitor all situations faced by CROSS centres and respond as quickly and as appropriately as possible," says Philippe Guevel, head of DCNS's bids and combat system products team.

The proposed system is part of MATRICS, the DCNS Group's broad suite of MSS solutions.

"Comprehensive MSS demands both extended surveillance and the rapid deployment of first responders. MATRICS (Maritime TRaffic Intelligence & Control of the Sea) solutions are scalable, evolvable and tailorable to the entire spectrum of MSS needs. They increase MSS efficiency and reduce the time it takes authorities to assess and respond to each situation by providing continuous surveillance and enhanced threat assessment as well as managing the distribution of information to responders," adds Philippe Guevel.

This contract is a major success as it positions DCNS as a premier league player in information and security solutions.

DCNS project teams draw on a vast range of in-house skills and expertise in areas including information and security systems, operational information architectures and systems, command information systems and data network interoperability.


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* DAM (Direction des Affaires Maritimes), or Department of Maritime Affairs, is part of the Directorate-General for Infrastructure, Transport and the Sea, itself part of the Ministry for Ecology, Energy, Sustainable Development and Regional Planning
** CROSS (Centres Régionaux Opérationnels de Surveillance et de Sauvetage) or Regional Operational Monitoring and Rescue Centres