The Moroccan Ministry of Fisheries announced Wednesday that it has selected Stratos Mobile Networks, Canada, as its satellite service provider for a complete fishing vessel-tracking system designed by Racal-Thorn Wells, U.K.

The system will allow the Ministry of Fisheries to monitor all

fishing vessels entering Moroccan waters via the Racal Locator system

and Stratos' Inmarsat-C satellite services.

"Stratos' extensive satellite network experience in the maritime

industry made it the obvious choice to help us track fishing vessels

in our waters," said Karim Bernoussi, Director of Human Resources

and General Affairs of the Moroccan Ministry of Fisheries.

"Stratos provided a very competitive bid that also included a

commitment to training and customer support, excellent network

facilities, a high quality of service and its skill in marine data

messaging applications."

Stratos Mobile Networks will ensure smooth ship-to-shore as well

as shore-to-ship transmission of all position reports and messages

through its global Inmarsat-C network, which also provides complete

connectivity to Internet, fax, telex, X.400, X.25 and ISDN.

Racal are currently supplying an advanced Vessel Monitoring

System for the Moroccan Ministry of Fisheries, Navy and Air

Gendermerie.

"We're well known in the international fishing community for our

vessel-tracking services and the pioneering work we've done with

Inmarsat-C messaging," explained Derrick Rowe, President and CEO of

Stratos Mobile Networks.

"By partnering with experts like Racal, Stratos is able to

provide a service that exactly meets the customer's requirements."

Earlier this year, Stratos and Racal were awarded a contract for

vessel-tracking services for the Canadian Coast Guard.

The Locator system was developed by Racal-Thorn Wells, Somerset,

U.K. and is an important element of the extensive vessel and

vehicle-tracking capabilities existing within the Racal Electronics

Group. The Group has annual sales of over $2 billion US with

products including advanced radar systems and radio communications.

Stratos Mobile Networks is a multi-network mobile satellite

service provider offering a diverse portfolio of communications

services, to users working in a variety of maritime and land

industries, such as international shipping, fishing, offshore oil and

gas projects, cruise, yachting, mining, humanitarian aid

organizations, journalism, UN peace-keeping operations, and

government agencies such as fisheries enforcement, Coast Guard and

Emergency Measures.