NOTE TO EDITORS:

Minister to tour Rutter Technologies Inc., St. John�s, April 11

Industry, Trade and Rural Development Minister Judy Foote will tour the facilities where the Rutter Technologies Inc. VDR systems, which are similar to the "black box" found in aircraft, are manufactured. VDRs record a ship�s position, wind speed and direction, and time lapse radar images of a ship�s voyage and were made mandatory by the International Maritime Organization for all marine passenger vessels effective July 2002.

The tour will take place at 2:00 p.m. tomorrow (April 11, 2003) at SEA Systems, 22 Pearl Place, St. John�s. Media interested in participating in the tour are asked to confirm their attendance by 9:00 a.m. tomorrow (April 11, 2003).

Media contact: Tansy Mundon, Communications, (709) 729-4570.

2003 04 10                                      4:05 p.m.