A FAMILY firm in Hampshire is expected to double in size after signing a contract for a second multimillion support vessel.

Up to 30 jobs are set to be created, with the potential for more, after marine engineering specialists Burgess Marine built the £3 million craft for Portchester company Mainprize Offshore at Trafalgar Wharf.

Called the MO2, the 25-metre boat was delivered at Southampton’s Seawork 2015 commercial marine and workboat conference.

Mainprize Offshore were so impressed with the finished product that they signed a contract with Burgess Marine for another vessel.

Mainprize, which has 20 staff, will manage and operate the MO2 on a three-month contract to transfer personnel and equipment to the Greater Gabbard field.

Bob Mainprize, who runs the family run firm with wife Sharon, said: “With MO2 and a second vessel, the MO4, we can potentially double the size of the business.

“MO2 has created eight to ten jobs and MO4 and further vessels will potentially create another 18 to 20 full-time jobs.

Bob added: “We really appreciate all of the outstanding professionalism, support and dedication of all at Burgess Marine for MO2, especially build manager Ric Haselhurst and fit-out manager Jim Mair.”

Work on MO4 is due to start in August.

The original boat is on its way to the £1.6 billion Greater Gabbard wind farm off Lowestoft in Suffolk where it will be used in dive inspection work. It can carry up to 15 dive personnel and three to six crew.

The MO2 is the first vessel to be built under Burgess Marine’s Surebuild concept to make high quality, versatile and competitively priced boats for the offshore market.

Burgess Marine stepped into the breach after Buckie Shipyard on the Moray Firth went into administration before completing the boat.

Greater Gabbard is a 504 MW wind farm 23km off the coast of Lowestoft, which opened in August 2013 at a cost of £1.6bn. Its 140 turbines can deliver enough renewable energy for about 530,000 homes annually.