25 Oct 2000

Chemring Group PLC's marine safety division, Pains Wessex Safety Systems, has been announced as the winner of the Safety Equipment Award and overall Supreme Award at the Marine Excellence Awards. The awards were presented in respect of the new SOS Precision 406 Global Positioning System (GPS) Emergency Position Indicating Radio Beacon (EPIRB).

Using the latest Cospas-Sarsat geostationary satellite constellation, the innovative SOS Precision 406 GPS EPIRB offers the benefits of operating on the new 406.028MHz frequency and features a built-in 12 channel parallel GPS receiver, all within an award winning design. With an alert time of just three minutes to contact the rescue services, lengthy searches and delays can be avoided. The built-in GPS provides continual updates every twenty minutes, detailing latitude and longitude which pinpoints position to around 30m, ensuring rapid location of the vessel and survivors.

Mr David Evans, Chief Executive of Chemring Group PLC, said "We are extremely pleased to receive these awards. The Group aims to be at the leading edge in terms of both technology and design in all of its business areas, and we are delighted that our marine safety division is recognised for excellence with this new innovative life-saving product".

For further information please contact:

David Evans, Chemring Group PLC - Tel: 01489 881880