Company win pounds 9m contract.Byline: Helen LoganA structural surveying business has secured its first major overseas contract with a deal worth pounds 9m. Stockton-based Survey Inspection Systems (SiS) has landed the work on offshore oil platforms in the Gulf state of Qatar. The firm, which employs 60, is also fielding inquiries for more work in the Middle East as well as in South America South America, fourth largest continent (1991 est. pop. 299,150,000), c.6,880,000 sq mi (17,819,000 sq km), the southern of the two continents of the Western Hemisphere. . The 28-month contract is the firm's first foray into Verb 1. foray into - enter someone else's territory and take spoils; "The pirates raided the coastal villages regularly" raid encroach upon, intrude on, obtrude upon, invade - to intrude upon, infringe, encroach on, violate; "This new colleague invades my offshore markets. It is in the middle of work inspecting ventilation shafts for London Underground The London Underground is an underground railway system - also known as a rapid transit system - that serves a large part of Greater London, United Kingdom and some neighbouring areas. It is the world's oldest underground system, and is one of the longest in terms of route length. using the same technology it will use for surveying three offshore platforms and an on-shore facility for Qatar Petroleum Qatar Petroleum (QP) is a state owned petroleum company in Qatar. The company operates all oil and gas activities in Qatar, including exploration, production, refining, transport, and storage. . Chief operating officer Chief Operating Officer (COO) The officer of a firm responsible for day-to-day management, usually the president or an executive vice-president. Phil Burgess said: "This contract is a major coup for the firm which is the first toe in the water for our overseas business. "We are dedicated to the continual investment of the best tools in the marketplace and are constantly producing techniques and equipment to satisfy current and future client demand to help ensure the continued expansion of the business." The Teesside business, which has concentrated on surveying railway infrastructure, is poised for expansion as surging oil prices provide the impetus for exploration firms to tap previously marginal potential fields. The company has fielded inquiries for work using its Image Based Information System (IBIS), which uses photographic technology to complete its surveys, from oil interests in Peru, Venezuela and Saudi Arabia. Mr Burgess said: "We are very encouraged by the interest it has generated and are keen to diversify the business and develop the SiS name worldwide." The company is also looking to its home markets. A development of a hand-held device the company originally designed to help local authorities map street-lighting and traffic lights, has been trialled by local authorities in Cheshire, Lancashire and Derbyshire. The councils want to use the software to respond to graffiti and abandoned vehicles. UK Trade and Investment funded the involvement of the Norther Offshore Federation to help secure the Qatar Petroleum contract and is advising on further opportunities. Business advice service Business Link is assisting SiS on marketing and training staff to operate in new markets. |
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