Lockheed Martin might satisfy recent criticism of offset with "model" project

The New Szczecin Shipyard (SSN) will build four ships as a part of an offset agreement with American Lockheed Martin, which is supplying the Polish military with F-16 aircraft. The first two ships are to be build by 2007 for USD 80 million for a Cyprus-based ship owner Neromar Shipping Company Ltd. Philip Georgariou, who is in charge of the Polish offset agreement in Lockheed Martin, said that his company was just an intermediary between the Szczecin shipyard and the Cypriot company and has no business links with Neromar. He added that his company considers the project to be a "model" one. On the basis of the agreement signed yesterday, Lockheed Martin will also help SSN to acquire an order for another two ships whose construction is scheduled for 2007 and 2008. (Rzeczpospolita, p. B3) E.B.