Darlington's DeepOcean digs in for new deal
A subsea firm has secured its third renewable energy deal in a month to continue fighting back against the sluggish oil and gas sector.
DeepOcean UK, in Darlington, will dig trenches and install cables for Dong Energy’s Race Bank wind farm.
The company is expected to start on the development, based off the Norfolk and Lincolnshire coasts, in late 2016, with Dong claiming the 91-turbine wind farm could power more than 400,000 homes.
Confirmation of the contract comes just days after The Northern Echo revealed DeepOcean was close to winning new work for its UK division.
It also follows DeepOcean’s announcement it will deliver trenching and install cables on Dong’s Walney Extension offshore wind farm, in the Irish Sea, and carry out trenching and surveying for an Australian project.
Under its Race Bank brief, DeepOcean will trench and install 91 cables totalling 65 miles in length and fit protection equipment.
Ottar Maeland, DeepOcean’s European vice-president for the Greater North Sea region, said the latest contract was proof of its renewables prowess.
He added: “This second award from Dong demonstrates our installation expertise and validates our strategy to offer renewables customers the benefits of our deep experience and skills in the international subsea market.”
However, the deal represents a further boost for DeepOcean, which also has a marine site in South Bank, near Middlesbrough, after it was forced to shed nearly a third of North-East staff at the start of 2015, when the price of oil fell below $50 a barrel.
Speaking to The Northern Echo last week, Bart Heijermans, DeepOcean’s group chief executive, said it had endured a tough time, but revealed it was close to signing new contracts that should lift staffing levels from their existing base of around 100.
He added: “We have made some good progress, especially in the renewables sector in the UK.
“We have the contracts we have announced, there is work in the UK and we are pushing for that.
“The Darlington office is very busy and there is a lot of work that goes on in there on contracts like the Dong deal.
“When we get closer to execution, and further towards these projects, we will have to staff up with personnel.
“It’s part of the cycle.”