ABERDEEN, SCOTLAND APRIL 2010 - Ashtead Technology is pleased to announce the purchase of two PHINS 6000 subsea inertial navigation systems (INS). The systems are destined to be used by a major ROV operator for work in the UK North Sea.

PHINS 6000 is a subsea INS that provides position, true heading, attitude, speed and heave data. The high-accuracy inertial measurement unit is coupled with an embedded digital signal processor that runs an advanced Kalman filter. The Ashtead units have pre-calibrated Doppler Velocity Logs (DVL), making them easy to install and ready to use in a range of precise navigation applications. The units are highly versatile and, since there are no spinning elements, they are practically maintenance-free.

IXSEA has deliberately manufactured PHINS to conform with dual-use export regulations, which dramatically increases the ease with which the system can be moved to different project sites around the world.

Ashtead's Operations Manager, Ian Harvey, commented, "Our existing OCTANS units have proved highly popular with our clients and to keep up with their demands we are addinggfully DVL-integrated PHINS INS systems to the rental fleet. This investment re-emphasises our commitment to the subsea market, by offering the latest technologies available."

Ashtead Technology is a premium supplier of technical equipment for a wide variety of applications, including subsea construction, non-destructive testing and offshore survey and positioning. With offices around the world, Ashtead are able to back up their global availability with local market support.

Fiona Mackenzie, IXSEA's UK Sales Manager, said, "We are delighted that Ashtead has decided to add PHINS to their rental fleet. INS is being increasingly used in subsea operations to provide improved positioning data. The high level of accuracy and ease of operation of PHINS makes it an ideal choice for a wide range of applications."

ENDS

Notes for Editors

Ashtead Technology specialise in the rental of technically advanced equipment for Underwater Positioning and Surveying, Remote Visual Inspection, Non-Destructive Testing and Environmental Monitoring from 14 offices worldwide. Fully equipped workshops are located in the United Kingdom, USA and South East Asia and all Offshore equipment is rented with full 24 hour technical support.

Formed in 2000, IXSEA designs and manufactures navigation and positioning systems based on its state of the art Fibre Optic Gyroscope technology, along with a complete range of seafloor mapping solutions for the scientific, offshore and defense industries.

IXSEA has more than 400 clients on five continents with a turnover of 35 million in 2009.

For further information, please contact:

Angela Sakapaji

Marketing Executive

Ashtead Technology

Tel: +44 (0) 1224 771888