FLEETSBRIDGE-BASED marine and offshore fluid handling systems Hamworthy has seen its order book grow to £254 million for the next three years.

Orders as at February 28 were 8.5 per cent up on August 31 2006, the group reported today in a trading statement.

Hamworthy will be announcing its results for the year ending March 31 on May 29. They are expected to be in line with market expectations.

Hamworthy's gas systems business has continued to experience strong demand in the second half of the year.

On January 22 it announced a deal with Hyundai Heavy Industries to produce a further three liquefied petroleum gas (LPG) reliquefaction systems for gas ships, bringing the total to 13 ship sets since the breakthrough order in August 2005.

Earlier this month Hamworthy announced orders for eight liquefied natural gas (LNG) reliquefaction systems, bringing the total for those to 31 ship sets.

The group has also made progress in all of its other principal products - notably an order from Daewoo Shipbuilding & Marine Engineering to supply inert gas generator systems for seven LNG carriers with an approximate total value of £4 million.

Hamworthy chief executive Kelvyn Derrick said: "The inert gas order is the largest we have ever received for this product and further improves our share of inert gas plant for gas ships, a segment in which we had virtually no sales a few years ago."