A SUBSEA engineering firm aims to double in size as it targets global supremacy.

Ennsub told The Northern Echo it wants to increase its presence in the next three years to become a world leader in the oil and gas industry.

The plans come as the company seeks to build on lucrative contracts to supply specialist offshore machinery.

Based at Wynyard Business Park, near Stockton, Ennsub designs and makes systems to deploy underwater remotely-operated vehicles (ROVs), which are used in pipe-laying projects.

Last week, it revealed a £2m contract to make a launch and recovery system for surveying company Benthic to carry out investigations in depths of 3,000 metres.

Scott Macknocher, managing director, told The Northern Echo the company, which has 12 workers in the region, was committed to becoming a driving force from its North-East base.

He said: “We have a business plan that focuses on doubling in size in three years, and we believe that is achievable.

“We have ambitions to be a world leader across ROVs and deep water deployment.

“There is a lot of history and heritage in this region in building and designing this type of equipment, which is second to none.

“The resource pool is excellent, and while things are not easy, they are better in this part of the world.

“The supply chain we rely on to deliver this type of equipment is also arguably the best in the country.”

Mr Macknocher was speaking as Ennsub held a demonstration day to showcase its ROV deployment systems to a number of oil and gas industry delegates.

Working with independent provider Rovop, it is sending two ultra-deepwater ROV launch and recovery systems to the Ceona Amazon, which bosses said include a high-speed electric winch and extendable A-frame.

The Amazon underwater pipe laying vessel is expected to start operations next month and will install rigid and flexible pipelines as well as large subsea structures.

Mr Macknocher added: “These two pieces of equipment are really giving us something that is not out there at the moment.

“They are industry leading and will be going on the Ceona Amazon, which itself is a world-leading vessel.

“We understand explicitly a customer’s needs because as a team we come from a number of backgrounds and a lot of companies cannot say that.

“The systems have been designed as a fully integrated system, which is not always the case, and we have a handling system, which we believe is the best in the industry.”