A DRIVE to promote North-East marine and offshore technology industries across the world will be launched later this month.

The project will promote the River Tyne as a world-class centre of excellence for the marine engineering and offshore technology sector.

Bob Beresford, Tyne strategy manager for Jobs on the Riverside, which is spearheading the initiative, said: "We have been working very hard to support the re-growth and development of the marine and offshore sector along the Tyne over the last two years.

"We are very excited about the launch, because it will enable us to market the River Tyne internationally as a synergised, highly-skilled centre of excellence, helping companies to win new contracts and win global recognition as simply the best."

It hopes to strengthen the River Tyne's reputation as an area which has the capability and capacity to handle a range of project work - from large scale projects such as the upcoming aircraft carrier projects, to minute specialist sub-component work.

Jobs on the Riverside, a public and private sector partnership based at Tyne Dock, South Shields, will also be looking to the new project to encourage young people to learn new skills and consider a career in marine engineering and offshore technology.

It already funds an adult apprenticeship pilot scheme at Swan Hunter, which has just taken on its second phase of trainee welders and platers, in a bid to help plug the skills gap.

The name and look of the initiative is being kept under wraps until the launch, on Tuesday, June 24.

Industry leaders and trainees, union bosses and civic leaders will gather at the Live Theatre, Newcastle, before boarding a boat to take a tour of the Tyne and view some of the industry's re-growth.