OSI Maritime Systems of Canada has signed a three-year contract to support and upgrade its situational and navigational awareness software for Australia's warships and submarines.

The Vancouver company said the navy is using its ECPINS -- Electronic Chart Precise Integrated Navigation System -- software for surface ships and its ECPINS-W Sub software for submarines.

OSI said its ECPINS software is approved by the International Maritime Organization and independently certified against NATO WECDIS STANAG 4564 standard for warship electronic chart and information display systems.

The contract win comes after OSI announced in May it is supplying the Australian navy with its advanced command, control and situational awareness system for the navy's Amphibious Task Group.

OSI is installing the system on two mother ships and 12 landing craft for use in covert and overt operations, an OSI statement said.

Australia's navy, one of 16 naval customers worldwide, has been using OSI navigational and tactical encounter software since 2004, the company said.

Other OSI Maritime clients include Malaysia, Indonesia and New Zealand.

Malaysia's Boustead Naval Shipyard awarded a contract to OSI Maritime Systems in June for ECPINS-W systems and its warship automatic identification system.

Malaysia made the award to OSI as part of the navy's littoral combat ship program, under which Boustead is building six Gowind-class corvettes for the navy.

The Gowind, developed in 2006, is a family of steel mono-hull corvettes and offshore patrol vessels designed for flexible weapons deployment. The 3,000-ton vessels will deploy unmanned aerial, surface and underwater vehicles as well as carry a 10-ton helicopter.

DCNS is the design authority working with Malaysian engineers in France to adapt the vessels to Malaysian navy standards, as well as advising on project management and combat system integration.

OSI is working with South Korean company Daewoo Shipbuilding and Marine, which is building three diesel submarines for Indonesia's navy. Daewo awarded the contract for OSI's ECPINS-W Sub software in May.

In New Zealand, OSI Maritime signed a $2 million contract with Siemens in early 2011 to provide integrated navigational and tactical bridge systems for the country's ANZAC-class frigates.

OSI's relationship with the New Zealand navy began in 2004 when it won a contract to supply the entire warship fleet with the company's electronic chart precise integrated navigation system.

OSI Maritime also signed a deal in April with an undisclosed Asian client to supply its Integrated Navigation and Tactical System on six fast-attack craft under construction.

As part of the contract, OSI is providing training and system support, a statement by OSI said.