News Release   December 18 2001  Brian E. Walsh Joins Board of Directors of Offshore Systems International Vancouver, Canada - December 18, 2001 - Offshore Systems International Ltd. (TSE: OSI), a marine electronic navigation company with a strong defense niche, announced today that Brian E. Walsh has been appointed to Offshore's Board of Directors.  John Jacobson, President and Chief Executive Officer of Offshore Systems, said, "We are extremely pleased to have a person of Mr. Walsh's extensive experience, acumen and global contacts join our board. We know he will be an invaluable advisor to Offshore as we pursue the accelerating business opportunities and financial growth now evolving for our company." "I have known Offshore Systems for a number of years and I'm a long-time shareholder. I believe the company has reached the stage where I can make a significant contribution to its future development," said Mr. Walsh. Brian E. Walsh. Mr. Walsh's career has spanned money management, investment banking and financial derivatives. He is President of QVan Capital (formerly Veritas Capital Management), a money management and advisory company based in Stamford, Connecticut, which Mr. Walsh co-founded in 1997. He also presently serves on the board of directors of the Great West Life and Annuity Insurance Company located in Denver, Colorado, U.S.A. Mr. Walsh also served as a director of Harrowston, Inc. of Toronto, Ontario, Canada until its recent acquisition by TD Capital. Mr. Walsh began his professional career with the Canadian investment-banking firm Wood Gundy, where he rose to partner in seven years. In 1986 he moved to Bankers Trust, where in 1988 he was made President of Bankers Trust Canada. In 1990, he was appointed Chairman of Bankers Trust International and selected to head Bankers Trust's global derivatives business. In 1993, Mr. Walsh became the co-head of Bankers Trust's Global Investment Bank in New York, which included Bankers Trust's global derivatives, financing and advisory businesses. In 1996, Mr. Walsh left Bankers Trust to take up an opportunity in asset and money management for the Bass family of Fort Worth, Texas, before co-founding Veritas Capital Management. He holds a Bachelor of Arts and MBA degrees from Queens University, Kingston, Ontario, Canada. Offshore Systems International Ltd. Founded in 1977, Offshore Systems designs, develops and markets the proprietary ECPINS® (Electronic Chart Precise Integrated Navigation System) line of electronic chart navigation systems for ships. ECPINS® helps to reduce the risk of navigation-related incidents by giving bridge crews a precise, real-time display of their position, course and speed, against a background of fixed obstacles and other navigational hazards. Offshore Systems has developed a strong market position in military navigation, and has ECPINS® systems deployed with the United States Coast Guard, the Canadian Navy, the Royal Danish Navy and the United States Navy. Forward-Looking Statements This news release contains discussion of items that may constitute forward-looking statements within the meaning of securities laws including Section 27a of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, and Section 21e of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, with respect to achieving corporate objectives, developing additional project interests, OSI's analysis of opportunities in the acquisition and development of various project interests and other matters. These statements are made under the 'safe harbour' provisions of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995 and, as such, involve known and unknown risks and uncertainties and other factors that may cause the actual results to be materially different from the results implied herein. Although Offshore Systems International believes the expectations reflected in such forward-look statements are based on reasonable assumptions, it can give no assurances that its expectations will be achieved. Factors that could cause actual results to differ from expectations include the effects of general economic conditions, changing foreign exchange rates, actions by government authorities, uncertainties associated with contract negotiations, industry supply.   For more information contact: Jane Hayward Investor Relations +1 613 287 0462 or +1 888 880 9797 +1 613 287 0466 (FAX) invest@osigeospatial.com