Thales acquires Barcos software unit

The agreement covers the sale of the OPSCenter software components for use in the maritime domain, and also includes a license for Barco's development toolbox for operational display systems. Barco will continue to provide hardware-based visualization solutions for maritime applications. Barco's software development unit for maritime safety and surveillance, located in Stuttgart, Germany, focuses on three related business areas serving operational centers that provide surveillance, navigation and other services to ports. These are Maritime Rescue & Coordination Centers, Coastal Surveillance Systems and Vessel Traffic - and Vessel Traffic Management & Information Systems. For Thales, this acquisition comes in the context of an increasing number of states recognising the need to interconnect both Safety and Surveillance systems in view of managing the entire scope of MSS activity. As a result of this operation, the 22 Stuttgart-based employees will gain access to Thales's worldwide base of dual-use technologies and benefit from an established international go-to-market environment.