A SUBSEA firm says construction is continuing on a cable-laying vessel it hopes will extend its energy industry prowess.

DeepOcean UK, which has a base in Darlington, says it is taking the unnamed ship on a long-term charter from conglomerate Maersk to increase work on cable laying projects.

It said the move will supplement its existing focus on oil, gas and renewable schemes.

To mark the occasion, the company carried out a keel laying ceremony at the Damen shipyard, in Galati, Romania, where a commemorative plaque incorporating three special coins was welded to a corridor section.

Tony Inglis, DeepOcean UK managing director, said: “This next generation vessel, in combination with our survey and trenching capabilities, will enable us to bundle our services in the offshore power cable and umbilical markets.

“It is designed to meet the high standards demanded by North Sea oil and gas customers.

“Its versatility means it will be well suited for installation and burial projects using its 7,000 tonne carousel in deepwater and remote locations.”

The announcement comes after The Northern Echo reported how DeepOcean, which also has a base at Teesport and employs about 120 North-East workers, had carried out work on a Chinese energy scheme.

It supported the Liwan 3-1 Project, part of the Liwan gas project, with its Volantis vessel and UT-1 jet trencher carrying out trenching and surveying operations over nearly 100 miles on the Liwan pipeline.

The pipeline connects the Liwan central platform to an onshore gas plant.

Earlier this year, DeepOcean secured the largest contract in its history to work on a £1bn UK energy development by digging trenches for underwater cabling on the Western Link project.

The scheme will transfer 2,200mw of power, enough to serve the needs of about two million people, from Scotland to England and Wales through cables in the Irish Sea.

The work on this project is expected to be finished by 2016.