A £30 million marine contract has been awarded to a James Fisher and Sons subsidiary.

It was announced that JFD has been chosen by Daewoo Shipbuilding & Marine Engineering to design, construct and deliver a third generation deep search and rescue vehicle for the Korean navy, together with training and in-service support.

The vehicle will be delivered in 2021.

Nick Henry, chief executive officer of James Fisher and Sons, said: "JFD delivered the first deep search and rescue system to the Korean navy in 2009 and this additional capability further demonstrates our position of market leadership in the submarine rescue market.

"The vehicle is a variation of the two third generation vehicles recently delivered to the Indian navy."

Earlier this month it was announced that Mr Henry is to step down as chief executive after 15 years in the role and 16 with the firm.

He plans to retire by the end of December 2019.

James Fisher and Sons was founded in Barrow, where it still operates and it has a base in Egremont.

Earlier this year, James Fisher’s marine services division scooped a £50 million 10-year contract with an unnamed energy company.

James Fisher was founded in 1847 as a ship-owning business transporting haematite from quarries in Cumbria around the world.