An engineering firm based in Cumbria is part of a European consortium developing pioneering technology for the shipping industry.

Forth, which has bases in Maryport, Cleator Moor and Barrow, is working with 12 other companies and organisations across Europe to develop in-water friction stir welding (FSW) technology to revolutionise the way ships hulls are repaired.

Partners from the UK, Ireland, France, Spain, Belgium, The Netherlands, Poland, Turkey and Cyprus have started work on the RESURGAM (Robotic Survey, Repair and Agile Manufacture) project, which will introduce the benefits of high productivity FSW technology on steel to shipyards across Europe.

It is the first time in the 20-year-history of Forth has worked on a Europe-wide project and the company will use its expertise as the technical manager of the project and will be developing the underwater friction stir welding technology.

Peter Routledge, Forth project manager, said: “This is another first for Forth to be working with so many partners from across Europe on a pan-European project.

“RESURGAM enables the team at Forth to build on the expertise and innovation we have demonstrated on a number of recent projects, including FSWBot, and apply that thinking to help solve a problem for an industry as big as the global shipping sector.

“It’s very exciting to think about the positive difference this technology will make.”

The €6m H2020-EU project is coordinated by the European Federation For Welding, Joining and Cutting, based in Belgium. Work is due to complete by the end of January 2024.