A MARINE engineering firm has completed work on offshore equipment for a fellow North-East company.

Subsea Innovation has designed and built two launch and recovery systems (LARS) for Tyneside-based SMD.

Bosses at the company, based in Darlington, say it is the first time the business have produced such equipment for SMD, which is known for supplying remotely operated vehicles used to lay underwater power cables.

The LARS have been shipped to China for use, with Subsea now having delivered more than 100 systems to operators around the world.

Martin Moon, Subsea’s managing director, said it was a fantastic accomplishment.

He added: “I am delighted to be supplying a major company such as SMD with these LARS, and look forward to a working with them in the future.

“Passing the build of 100 systems is a great achievement and testament to the hard work and commitment put in by the team at Darlington.”

The Northern Echo previously revealed how Subsea, which employs about 50 workers, was winning new work and diversifying services to suppress any impact of the sunken oil price.

Mr Moon said projects included designing a system to help lay concrete mattresses for pipeline protection, and clamps and connectors for the Middle-East.

He also revealed it had firmed up a partnership with Denmark-based winch maker NTD Offshore to increase its provision across complete systems, which include winches and its own LARS frames.

He said: “We are tendering for quite a bit of work and continuing to grow in the marketplace.

“We have seen this before with the oil and gas sector where it takes a dip, but, if anything, this has taken the overheating out of the industry.

“We have started doing bits and pieces on that and are looking at our A-frames and those of others too.

“People are starting to prepare for the rise and the oil price is slowly climbing again; the world still needs oil and gas and it still needs energy.”

Last year, the company officially moved into a new 40,000sq ft plant, in Darlington’s Faverdale area, after it was opened by the Duke of Gloucester.

Built by Darlington-based J and RM Richardson, and designed by Darlington’s Architects Design Group, the site is close to Subsea’s former base, and allows the firm to carry out larger projects.