Subsea vehicle firm Soil Machine Dynamics (SMD) is relocating its servicing operations to the Port of Tyne’s Tyne Dock estate in South Shields (UK).
The Tyneside-based remotely operated vehicles (ROVs) specialist will keep its head office and heavy production facility will remain in Wallsend, Newcastle, and the company will continue to manufacture ROVs at the Tyne Tunnel Trading Estate in North Shields. Servicing, maintenance and training operations will transfer to the new facility at the Port of Tyne in a 23,000sq ft unit at Tyne Dock.
It will be used for repairs and upgrades and training via state-of-the-art simulation technology designed to mimic sea conditions.
Graham Puntis, SMD Managing Director, Services, said: “As well as focusing on new builds, SMD Services enables us to increase our presence in the after-market by helping customers to get the most out of their assets so they can remain where they should be - at sea - for as long as possible."
SMD currently employs 220 people with 50 members of staff now based at Port of Tyne, and that figure is due to rise to 80, plus additional offshore support workers as operations continue to expand.