THE Marine MTS business Wynne Edwards founded after doing stints in the Special Branch and skippering super yachts has won multi-million dollar backing from a Greek firm which sees global potential in its nautical chart technology.

SRH Marine Electronics has acquired a 40% stake in Stonehaven-based MarineMTS in a move it said would make it a market leader in the field of e-navigation.

MarineMTS said the deal was driven by the Silverbox technology it launched in April. This provides secure chart and data updates that can help mariners with tasks like voyage and safety planning.

The link up with Athens-based SRH will give MarineMTS an opportunity to access customers that operate around 15,000 vessels around the world.

“Now we have an established route to the customer base and a reputable partner, we are well positioned to bring a healthy slice of the global marine electronics market to the UK, and specifically, to Scotland,” said Mr Edwards.

MarineMTS plans to open offices in Aberdeen and to establish a new control centre in the Central Belt.

Mr Edwards started a maritime training venture in 2003 after spending 17 years in the police and then 20 in the international leisure marine industry.