Istanbul, Turkey - (May 17, 2000) The U.S. Trade and Development Agency (TDA) today awarded a grant of $300,000 to the Ministry of Maritime Affairs for a Vessel Traffic and Management Information System. Lockheed Martin and the U.S. Coast Guard will implement the project, in cooperation with the Ministry. The grant was signed by U.S. Commercial Counselor John Breidenstine and Undersecretariat of Treasury Director General Aydin Karaöz in Istanbul.

TDA Director J. Joseph Grandmaison remarked, "TDA is proud to support the Government of Turkey and Lockheed Martin in their efforts to implement one of the most important projects for improving the safety of navigation and the protection of the environment for the Bosphorus and the Dardanelles. This Vessel Traffic and Management Information System project will protect the marine environment of both Straits from the pollution that results from vessel collisions and groundings and make their utilization by international ships of trade safer and more efficient."

TDA's grant includes funding for the training services, provided by Lockheed Martin, on the use of this modern VTMIS technology, as well as specialized training to be provided by the U.S. Coast Guard. The technology transfer associated with this program will be significant in terms of the training of traffic controllers and administrators in the application of this state-of-the-art system to one of the world's most congested and complex waterways. The Ministry will be provided with laptop computers loaded with a portable electronic training manual that will provide site technicians and managers with access to state-of-the-art operations and maintenance data in a portable, easily accessible electronic medium.

The total value of the project is $20,400,000 of which the U.S. export content is approximately $11 million. In addition to Lockheed Martin, this contract involves several major U.S. firms as subcontractors. Digital Equipment from Massachusetts will be supplying computers; Ross Engineering from Florida will provide the marine radios; and SONTEK from California will produce the current sensors.

The U.S. Trade and Development Agency, an agency of the U.S. Government, helps form mutually beneficial partnerships between U.S. private sector companies and overseas project sponsors. Last year, TDA provided assistance in 67 nations around the world, including 26 activities in Turkey and the NIS countries of the Caspian region.

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