A SUBSEA firm forced to shed North-East jobs is taking its fight to Westminster.

DeepOcean UK, in Darlington, is pressing the Government’s for answers on the amount of work given to UK companies for offshore wind farms in British waters.

The move comes as officials ready themselves to cut a third of their 136-strong workforce, citing a Government failure over increased UK supply chain contracts going to foreign rivals, which has been compounded by the falling oil price.

The company has offices in Darlington’s Coniscliffe Road, and a marine site in South Bank, near Middlesbrough, which The Northern Echo understands are some of the areas hardest hit across the DeepOcean group.

However, when approached last night, DeepOcean’s Amsterdam-based bosses said they could not confirm company-wide figures on job losses.

Known across the oil, gas and renewable energy sectors for its specialist trench digging and underwater power cable laying, the firm is now writing to Amber Rudd, the Government’s Parliamentary Under-Secretary for energy and climate change, for support.

Ms Rudd yesterday told The Northern Echo it is committed to the UK offshore sector and its supply chain.

However, Redcar MP Ian Swales, who is supporting DeepOcean alongside Darlington MP Jenny Chapman, said the Government must be more proactive.

Mr Swales previously questioned Ms Rudd for details on the value and proportion of UK content in offshore wind farms.

In a response, Ms Rudd said who while some companies disclose amounts, it’s not a Government requirement developers give such details, a situation the Liberal Democrat MP said must change.

“This is about putting more pressure on the offshore wind farm developers and the Government to find out about UK content”, said Mr Swales, who last year saw the completion of EDF Energy Renewables’ 27-turbine development in his Redcar constituency.

“We expect to use the UK supply chain to build these wind farms, which are subsidised the taxpayer.

“The companies building these developments are not necessarily wedded to the UK supply chain, but we would like the Government to be more proactive in ensuring UK companies benefit fully.

“There is work going on, but we want to see more and that’s why I am helping DeepOcean.

“I know the industry and I want to try and make this happen for the company.”

However, despite DeepOcean’s setbacks, Mr Swales the sector was still performing well, pointing to Offshore Structures (Britain) Limited’s work on foundations for a Dong Energy wind farm, in Liverpool Bay, at the former Tag Energy factory, in Haverton Hill, near Billingham.

He added: “Things are not all bad; we have the company at Tag and it’s not the case that all UK companies are not getting the work.

“You only have to look back to the Redcar wind farm, which had more than 40 specialist companies working on it, including MPI, who are based in Stokesley, North Yorkshire.”

Tony Inglis, DeepOcean UK’s managing director, reiterated the need for more clarity, confirming the firm wants better support for the local supply chain and vowing it will recover.

He added: “This is tough for everyone, especially those 45 people affected.

“But we are a cable installer with a fully a functioning supply chain, and we will rebuild the business as the market recovers.”

DeepOcean’s Darlington offices provide engineering, design and geo-technical investigation work, with its South Bank base preparing equipment for use.

The company is making changes across its global divisions, which include sites in the UK, the Netherlands, Norway, Brazil and Mexico, with one focusing on the greater North Sea region and another looking at international work.