Neptune said the European patent is expected to further contribute to the international application of the NEPSYS technology and complements the Australian and North American patents already in place.

Managing director and chief executive Christian Lange said the new patent confirmed the technology's ability to provide asset operators with a cost effective, permanent, in situ repair solution that offered a number of benefits over conventional alternatives.

"The timing of the patent also complements our recent expansion into Europe through

Neptune Ross Deeptech and our identification of the North Sea as a prospective market for the application of the technology," he said.

Neptune is currently seeking specific patents for individual countries across Europe.