What Ocean Kinetics does

Ocean Kinetics is a privately held Shetland-headquartered marine engineering contractor founded in 1992, operating from six sites across Scotland and Ireland (Lerwick headquarters, Aberdeen, Kirkwall, Oban, Sella Ness, and a Killybegs partner facility through MMG Ocean). The company provides integrated marine and industrial engineering services — fabrication, coded welding, CNC machining and manufacturing, commercial diving, ROV operations, NDT/inspection, rope access, marine and land plant hire, trades provision, retail shop/stores and certified materials supply — to enterprise clients in oil and gas, aquaculture, marine works, power and utilities, decommissioning and (newly) offshore renewables. Core technical assets include Shetland's largest fabrication workshop (3,580m² within a 15,000m² Lerwick site), the only commercial radiographic NDT facility on the islands, a purpose-built Inspection House, and a marine plant fleet including the survey vessel Ruby May, Seaeye Falcon ROV, barges, pontoons and diving equipment. The business has accumulated a long stack of industry certifications (ISO 9001/14001/45001, ISO 3834-2, EN 1090, FPAL, SafeContractor, ADC, PE(S)R Category II) and a track record in extreme environments, including the first underwater welding job in Antarctica and BAE Systems nuclear-licensed quay work.

Revenue is generated on a quote-based, project-by-project basis across multiple streams: one-time fabrication and welding contracts (certified to ASME IX, EN 9609, AWS D1.1, AWS D3.6M standards), usage-based marine plant hire, professional services for diving/ROV and NDT, trades provision for skilled labour deployment worldwide, and unit-priced retail sales through shop/stores locations. Go-to-market is direct enterprise field sales via four regional offices covering Scotland, supplemented by international mobilisation (Antarctica, Jordan, Libya); brand-building flows through sector events (Seawork, Aqua Nor, Floating Offshore Wind), a deep case-study library and a community-focused apprenticeship and 'Futures' STEM scholarship programme. The company is led by Managing Director John Henderson alongside Marine Projects Director Michael Fox and a newly appointed Commercial Manager, Shane Jamieson. Ocean Kinetics is privately held with no disclosed institutional investors, was founded in 1992 (per firmographics) and operates as Ocean Kinetics Limited in the United Kingdom.

Name

Ocean Kinetics

Legal name

Ocean Kinetics Limited

Website

https://oceankinetics.co.uk

Company type

Private

Founded year

2003

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

Ocean Kinetics is a privately held Shetland-headquartered marine engineering contractor delivering fabrication, diving, ROV, NDT, plant hire and skilled trades to enterprise clients across oil and gas, aquaculture, marine works, decommissioning and renewables in the UK and internationally.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Marine Engineering Services

NAICS

Ship Building and Repairing (336611), Support Activities for Water Transportation (4883)

SIC

Ship & Boat Building & Repairing (3730), Special Industry Machinery, Nec (3559)

akta.pro primary industry

Underwater Hull Services (Diving, In-Water Cleaning, Propeller Polishing, Inspection) (TLAHAMAL)

akta.pro secondary industries

Subsea & Nearshore Civil Works (Trenching, Rock Placement, Mattressing) (IMAFAJAI), Firefighting & Casualty Stabilization (Marine Fire, De-watering) (IMAJANAG)

Keywords

• Marine engineering services
• Commercial diving services
• Structural fabrication
• Pipeline pig handling
• Non-destructive testing

Headquarters

HQ city

Lerwick

HQ country

United Kingdom

HQ region

Europe

Offices6 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Supply Chain, Infrastructure, Marketing or Sales

Revenue model

1. Fabrication and Welding Services: Custom fabrication, structural steelwork, pipework, platework, and coded welding services. Revenue is project-based with quotes provided for specific client requirements. Includes certified fabrication to ASME IX, EN 9609, AWS D1.1, AWS D3.6M standards.
2. Plant and Equipment Hire: Marine plant hire including pontoons, barges, cranes, boats, ROVs, diving equipment, and survey vessels. Also includes general plant hire for mechanical engineering services. Rates are competitive and negotiable for larger orders.
3. Diving and ROV Services: Commercial diving and ROV services including surveys, inspections, underwater welding, construction, demolition, and salvage. Provided both locally and internationally with teams based in Lerwick and Aberdeen.
4. NDT and Inspection Services: Non-destructive testing and inspection services including radiography, hydrostatic pressure testing, ultrasonic inspections, MPI, DPI, and weld inspection. The only commercial NDT facility in Shetland.
5. Trades Provision: Hiring out skilled tradesmen including coded welders, fabricators, mechanical technicians, divers, rope access technicians, and supervisors for projects worldwide.
6. Shop and Retail Sales: Retail shop and stores selling tools, equipment, sheet steel, pipes, flanges, valves, and specialist items. Also offers cutting services and Ultraguard antifouling products.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels6 records

Core offering

Ocean Kinetics provides integrated marine and industrial engineering services from offices in Lerwick, Aberdeen, Kirkwall, and Oban. The company delivers welding and fabrication, CNC machining, mechanical services, inspection and NDT, commercial diving, ROV and survey work, marine and land plant hire, and skilled trades provision to energy, renewables, fishing and aquaculture, decommissioning, salvage, marine, and power/utilities clients. It also manufactures custom pipeline pig handling equipment and distributes the Ultraguard ultrasonic antifouling system.

Product overview

Ocean Kinetics is a Shetland, Orkney and Aberdeen-based engineering company offering a comprehensive suite of marine and industrial engineering services. The portfolio includes custom pipeline pig handling equipment (pig trolleys and cradles) manufactured in-house, along with the Ultraguard ultrasonic antifouling system which they distribute as agents. Core services encompass fabrication, commercial diving and ROV operations, CNC machining and manufacturing, NDT/inspection services, marine and land plant hire, skilled trades provision, retail shop/stores, rope access services, and certified materials supply. The company operates across six key sectors: Energy, Renewables, Marine Works, Aquaculture and Fishing, Power and Utilities, and Decommissioning.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Fabrication Services Delivery of high-quality structural and architectural steelwork, pipework, platework, bespoke fabrication and repairs for industrial and marine clients, with staff fully coded to BS EN 1090 Exc 3 and EN ISO 3834-2 standards.
• Commercial Diving Services Comprehensive diving and ROV services including surveys, inspections, underwater welding, construction, demolition, and salvage operations delivered locally and internationally, with divers trained to ADC standards and who are fully qualified tradesmen.
• Machining and Manufacturing In-house CNC HD precision plasma cutting, turning, milling, SafanDarley machinery, and M-Shear guillotine services capable of cutting up to 4.3m long sheets of steel, stainless steel, and aluminium for marine and industrial clients.
• NDT and Inspection Services Non-destructive testing including radiography, hydrostatic pressure testing, ultrasonic inspections, magnetic particle testing (MPT), and dye penetrant inspection (DPI) delivered by CSWIP/PCN qualified technicians, including Shetland's only commercial radiographic inspection capability.
• Marine Plant Hire Hire of marine plant and equipment including survey and crew transfer vessels (Ruby May), ROVs (Seaeye Falcon), workboats, barges, pontoons, cranes, diving equipment, and decompression chambers, with usage-based, negotiable rates.
• Plant Hire Hire of an extensive stock of land-based plant, equipment, and specialist tooling supporting mechanical engineering services, including pressure testing equipment, generators, and portable tools for industrial sectors in Shetland.
• Trades Provision Worldwide hire of skilled tradesmen including coded pipe and structural welders, platers, pipefitters, fabricators, mechanical technicians, NDT technicians, rope access technicians, divers, marine engineers, electricians, supervisors, and site foremen on client projects.
• Rope Access Services IRATA-qualified rope access services covering welding and fabrication, visual and MPI NDT inspection, thermal insulation, repair and maintenance, decommissioning, rigging support, and electrical installation at height, drawing on 20+ years of experience.
• Pipeline Pig Handling Equipment Custom-designed and manufactured pipeline pig handling equipment for offshore and onshore operations, including stainless-steel pig trolleys, push rod systems, and cradles with quick-assembly coupling mechanisms and height-adjustable frames for platforms such as BP Clair.
• Shop and Stores Retail shop and stores in Lerwick and Kirkwall stocking tools, equipment, sheet steel, section materials, pipes, flanges, valves, Kemppi welders, Bahco tools, adhesives, bolts, PPE, and Ultraguard antifouling products, with a specialist ordering service.
• Certified Materials Supply Supply of fully-certified and traceable materials maintained through Ocean Kinetics' Quality Management System accredited to ISO 9001 and ISO 3834-2 for fabrication activities.
• Ultraguard Antifouling System World-leading ultrasonic antifouling system that prevents marine growth on hulls, sea chests, pipework, and cooling systems using acoustic signals; Ocean Kinetics acts as the appointed agent in its market area.

Quantifiable outcome

• 100,000 accident-free work-hours delivered during Petrofac Shetland Gas Plant project
• +4 more outcomes

Named customers20 records

Segments6 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature4 records

Partnerships

Nine partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• MMG OceancoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 8 June 2026Strategic collaboration bringing together MMG Ocean's patented Compact Gangway System with Ocean Kinetics' extensive marine engineering, fabrication, installation and maintenance services. Partnership enables integrated marine access and engineering solutions, allowing clients to access comprehensive services through a single trusted delivery team. Combined capabilities showcased at Seawork 2026.
• GoforcoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ Distributor · 15 May 2026Fleet management provider deployed over 30 low-emission vans for Ocean Kinetics across remote Scottish locations including Shetland, Orkney, and Aberdeen. Four-year managed fleet partnership includes plug-in hybrid electric vehicles, battery electric vehicles, and workplace charging infrastructure as part of Ocean Kinetics' sustainability strategy.
• Arch HendersonminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerCollaboration on British Antarctic Survey project to repair quay damage at Rothera Research Station. Arch Henderson commissioned Ocean Kinetics for the first ever underwater welding job in the Antarctic.
• ScaleAQcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerOngoing collaboration on aquaculture projects including thermolicer treatment systems for vessels, fish handling systems, and treatment system installations for Scottish Sea Farms and Inverlussa Marine Services.
• DFDSminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnership with DFDS for transporting four 18m long x 4m diameter steel water storage tanks from Aberdeen to Baltasound, Shetland for SaxaVord Spaceport.
• RS HendersonminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerMarine partner for offloading operations at Baltasound Harbour during SaxaVord Spaceport water storage tank transport project.
• Aberdeen HarbourcoreImplementation/ SI/ Consulting PartnerSelected by Aberdeen Harbour to deliver key elements for £350 million south harbour expansion scheme (AHEP), transporting and positioning concrete caissons.
• Caledonian TowageminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnership on Port of Aberdeen expansion project, providing harbour tugs for caisson positioning operations.
• British Antarctic SurveycoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerLong-term collaboration including Antarctic projects: repairing quay at Rothera Research Station (first ever underwater welding in Antarctic) and demolishing/rebuilding deepwater berth for RRS Sir David Attenborough.

Scale indicators14 records

Recent moves8 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Direct peers

• PD&MS Energy Services: Aberdeen-headquartered multi-discipline engineering, procurement and construction services provider to the UK energy sector with fabrication, structural, mechanical and electrical capabilities — closely comparable in service mix and energy-sector customer base to Ocean Kinetics.
• Global Energy Group: Invergordon-based provider of fabric maintenance, offshore services, renewables and marine engineering with quayside fabrication facilities; directly comparable to Ocean Kinetics in scope (fabrication, marine services) and sector exposure (oil & gas, offshore wind, decommissioning).
• Score Group: Peterhead-based engineering group providing valves, instrumentation, manufacturing and on-site service support to the energy sector; comparable as a north-east Scotland engineering services competitor with in-house manufacturing and trades-provision model.
• WH Scott: Peterhead-headquartered engineering, fabrication and project services company serving the UK oil & gas, renewables and decommissioning markets; comparable in service mix (fabrication, site services, tradesmen provision) and North Sea customer base.
• Forth Engineering: Cumbria-based specialist mechanical engineering, fabrication and nuclear-licensed site services contractor with diving and in-house machining capabilities; comparable as a niche UK engineering services firm with defence, nuclear and industrial customer overlap.

Regional players

• Bridge Marine: Yorkshire/Humber-based marine civil engineering and diving contractor providing quay repairs, underwater construction and ROV inspection to UK port operators — directly comparable in marine construction/diving capability though operating in a different regional cluster.

Broad incumbents

• James Fisher and Sons: UK-listed marine services group providing diving, ROV, offshore wind support, defence and decommissioning across multiple geographies; comparable as a broader, listed marine services incumbent with overlapping service lines and customer segments.
• DeepOcean: Subsea services contractor offering ROV, survey, trenching and offshore wind installation across UK and European waters; comparable as a marine services provider with overlapping ROV, survey and subsea engineering capabilities but operating at larger scale.
• Subsea 7: Global Tier-1 subsea engineering, construction and services company with significant UK presence delivering SURF, IMR and offshore wind installation; comparable in offshore installation and survey capability though orders of magnitude larger in scale.
• Bilfinger UK: Multi-discipline engineering, maintenance and fabrication services provider to process industries including oil & gas, nuclear and renewables; comparable as a UK-wide engineering services competitor with fabrication and inspection capability overlap.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/OceanKinetics
• Facebookfacebook.com/OceanKineticsltd
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/ocean-kinetics

Compliance11 records

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles4 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds1 record

Investors1 record

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Ocean Kinetics