Offshore Marine Management (OMM) has secured GROW:OffshoreWind funding to build an innovative subsea tool which will substantially reduce project costs and improve health and safety offshore.

The subsea tool, which is currently being constructed by Darlington-based Subsea Innovation, will see improvements during the installation phase by removing the need for deepsea divers and separate work class ROVs.

It is expected to be in operation from June 2015 following sea trials, the company informed.

George Birkett, Resources Manager at OMM, said: “We are thrilled to have been awarded this funding from GROW:OffshoreWind. It highlights their commitment to both British innovation and assisting UK businesses, to promote expansion into the offshore energy market.”

The design also took into account the need for the tool to be containerised to enable easy global transportation.

He continued, “We have a great team who have a really clear understanding of the needs and the added benefits this will bring to both the industry, our clients and to OMM. The collaboration with Subsea Innovation signifies the UK’s specialist subsea capability and our aptitude to deliver out of the box thinking.”

Matthew Shaw, Project Manager at Subsea Innovation, said: “We are thrilled to have been asked to deliver this tool for Offshore Marine Management. We have a vast amount of experience in constructing new technology which makes a real difference to the wider offshore industry.”

GROW:OffshoreWind is delivered by Grant Thornton and programme partners the Manufacturing Advisory Service (MAS), Renewable UK and the University of Sheffield.