A FABRICATION firm in the North-East has landed a seven figure contract involving seabed excavation, trenching and boulder clearing.

County Durham-based MASfab is teaming up with a leading Scottish subsea technology firm as part of the undisclosed deal.

It will construct the latest version of Ecosse Subsea System’s (ESS) SCAR subsea plough.

The project is MASfab’s largest to date and was agreed as part of a package which sees MASfab join the ESS stable.

Formed last August by managing director Paul Mitchinson and director Sharon West, MASfab employs 22 staff and has projected that over the next three years their workforce will grow to around 30, with annual revenues exceeding £3m.

The welding and fabrication business is located in Bowburn and provides a range of welding and construction services to the North Sea oil, gas and renewable energy sector.

Paul Mitchinson said: “By joining with Ecosse we will benefit from massive exposure to their extensive client base which will accelerate growth and create jobs in the North-East.

“Ecosse is a very successful subsea technology firm which has just won a multi-million pound renewables contract in the North-East of Scotland.

“They have a long track record of success on traditional oil and gas projects but are increasingly the go-to people for seabed excavation, clearance and cable-laying in the fast-growth renewables industry.

“This is a win-win for MASfab and already we are benefitting from the award to build Ecosse’s new SCAR Max plough, which is the latest version of their successful SCAR technology.”

ESS is based in Banchory near Aberdeen and recently announced its profits to March 2014 had trebled to £3.4 million with revenue up by 88 per cent to £15.6 million.

ESS managing director Mike Wilson said: “MASfab is an excellent addition to Ecosse’s capabilities and their reputation for first class workmanship on large oil and gas contracts was a driver in completing this deal.

“Our new SCAR Max plough will be an important addition to our subsea fleet and MASfab will be delivering a subsea plough which will set new industry standards and bring instant benefits to our clients.

“There are great opportunities ahead for MASfab and we are looking forward to working with Paul, Sharon and their team and enjoying the mutual benefits that knowledge sharing and close co-operation will bring.”