Brian Burke, Briggs Marine Project Director said, 'The contract was won through a competitive tender process and demonstrates the capability of Briggs Group to provide a turnkey project to the MoD which encompasses Environmental and Marine Services.'

In 1999 Briggs Marine was awarded a contract to undertake a pilot hot tap of the Royal Oak to remove a quantity of oil and demonstrate the feasibility of hot tapping in this context.

Additionally, as part of this contract, the company devised an environmental oil pollution contingency plan.

Briggs marine has continued to develop in-house machinery based on hot tapping methodology.

Successful trials have been conducted and the company will be using the machinery during the summer operations on the Royal Oak.

Group Managing Director Collieson Briggs said, 'Briggs has demonstrted a commitment to the Oil Recovery Project over the last three years by continually improving service and developing techniques and equipment in a cost effective way.

We are pleased to have been awarded this contract and look forward to working with the MoD on the Royal Oak Project at Scapa Flow again.'

MJ Information No: 17148