What First Subsea does

First Subsea Ltd, a UK private limited company headquartered in Lancaster, designs and manufactures proprietary subsea products — cable protection systems, mooring connectors, bend stiffener connectors, dynamic bend stiffeners and lifting tools — for offshore wind developers and oil & gas operators. The company traces its origin to BSW Limited, founded in 1983 as the inventor of the world's first ball and taper connector, was incorporated in 1994, was acquired by Aberdeen-based First Tech Group in 2004, and rebranded as First Subsea in 2008 as it pivoted into offshore wind.

The technical core is a portfolio of quick-connect/disconnect subsea systems — Subsea Mooring Connector (SMC), Platform Mooring Connector (PMC), Bend Stiffener Connector (BSC), Internal Lifting Tool (ILT), Pipeline Removal Tool (PRT), Proshell split-pipe protection and Resin Free Hang-off (RFHO, co-developed with Kintech Energy Ltd) — engineered around the original ball-and-taper architecture with a documented zero-failure track record on mooring connectors since 2001. Manufacturing is vertically integrated at the Lancaster campus, which houses a dedicated polyurethane facility (opened 2021, expanded with multiple lines in 2023), in-house testing, packing and inspection, supported by Finite Element Analysis and Orcaflex global mooring and cable protection analysis.

First Subsea monetises through direct enterprise sales of engineered product packages, complemented by associated design, engineering, project management and testing services on a project-by-project basis (one-time / professional services revenue mix), with sister-company First Integrated providing adjacent equipment rental and inspection. Go-to-market is enterprise field sales targeting major offshore wind developers and oil & gas operators, executed via direct key account management, supplier engagement days (e.g. RWE East Coast Supplier Day in 2024) and industry conferences such as Wind Energy Hamburg and the GWEC APAC Wind Energy Summit. The company holds ISO 9001, ISO 14001 and ISO 45001 certifications, is a subsidiary of First Tech Group, and recently promoted Jonny Barnett to Managing Director on 7 January 2026 alongside other internal leadership changes.

Name

First Subsea

Legal name

First Subsea Ltd

Website

https://firstsubsea.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

1983

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

First Subsea Ltd is a Lancaster, UK-based designer and manufacturer of proprietary ball-and-taper subsea connectors, cable protection systems, mooring solutions, bend stiffener connectors and lifting tools for the offshore wind and oil & gas industries.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Subsea Engineering Equipment

NAICS

Oil and Gas Field Machinery and Equipment Manufacturing (333132)

SIC

Oil & Gas Field Machinery & Equipment (3533), Oil & Gas Field Services, Nec (1389)

akta.pro primary industry

Subsea Services & Equipment (Subsea Trees, Umbilicals, Installation, IMR) (EUALABAI)

akta.pro secondary industry

Offshore Wind Substructures & Marine Engineering (Monopiles, Jackets, Floating) (EUAMACAE)

Keywords

• Subsea cable protection
• Mooring connectors
• Offshore wind products
• Subsea lifting tools
• Bend stiffener connectors

Headquarters

HQ city

Lancaster

HQ country

United Kingdom

HQ region

Europe

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Hardware or Manufacturing

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Supply Chain, Technology or R&D, Marketing or Sales

Revenue model

1. Subsea Product Sales: Design, manufacture, and supply of subsea products including cable protection systems, mooring connectors, bend stiffener connectors, and lifting tools to offshore wind and oil & gas operators. Products are sold directly to enterprise customers for specific project applications.
2. Equipment Rental and Inspection Services: Through sister company First Integrated, lifting equipment rental, inspection and testing services are offered, forming part of the broader First Tech Group service offering that First Subsea participates in.
3. Engineering and Project Management Services: Detailed design, engineering, analysis, project management, and testing services provided alongside product supply, supporting customers from initial award through to final delivery.

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels1 record

Marketing channels6 records

Core offering

First Subsea designs and manufactures subsea products for the offshore wind, oil and gas industries. Its portfolio spans four core categories: Cable Protection Systems (Proshell, Bend Restrictors, Resin Free Hang-off), Mooring Connectors (Platform Mooring Connector for floating wind and Subsea Mooring Connector for oil and gas), Bend Stiffener Connectors for SURF applications, and Lifting/Decommissioning Tools (Internal Lifting Tool, Decommissioning Tools, Pipeline Removal Tool). The company operates from a single Lancaster, UK facility that combines engineering, project management, polyurethane manufacturing, and testing.

Product overview

First Subsea is a subsea products provider serving the offshore wind and oil and gas industries. The company's product portfolio centers on four main categories: Cable Protection Systems (CPS) including Proshell, Bend Restrictors, and Dynamic Bend Stiffeners for cable protection and fatigue management; Mooring Connectors including Platform Mooring Connectors (PMC) for floating offshore wind and Subsea Mooring Connectors (SMC) for oil and gas applications; Lifting Tools including Internal Lifting Tools (ILT), Decommissioning Tools, and Pipeline Removal Tools (PRT) for subsea lifting operations; and Bend Stiffener Connectors (BSC) for SURF applications. Products are offered through collaboration with Kintech Energy Ltd for certain cable hang-off solutions. The company operates from Lancaster, UK with dedicated polyurethane manufacturing facilities and extensive testing capabilities.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Cable Protection Systems (CPS) Cable protection systems for offshore wind applications including monopile and J-tube installations, protecting array, export, interconnector and fibre optic cables. Designed with fatigue, abrasion and impact resistance in mind. Sold to offshore wind developers and operators.
• Dynamic Bend Stiffeners Bend stiffener products providing bending and fatigue protection to offshore cables, manufactured onsite in Lancaster to minimise cable movements and maximise fatigue life. Targeted at offshore wind cable ancillaries.
• Platform Mooring Connector (PMC) Mooring connector specifically designed for floating offshore wind platforms, providing quick connection and disconnection of mooring lines with minimal intervention and removing the need for chain jacks and fairleads. Sold to floating offshore wind developers and operators.
• Subsea Mooring Connector (SMC) Quick connect solution for mooring line connections to subsea structures such as suction or driven piles, suitable for longer term installations with disconnection and re-connection capabilities. Sold to offshore oil and gas operators.
• Bend Stiffener Connector (BSC) Connector designed for quick connection of dynamic bend stiffeners to offshore floating structures, suitable for long-term installations with ROV-less and diver-less installation capability. Sold to offshore oil and gas SURF operators.
• Internal Lifting Tool (ILT) Lifting tool designed to suit any load capacity for surface and subsea installations, simplifying multi-point rigging lifts with customizable receptacle designs and remote operation capability. Sold to offshore oil and gas and offshore wind operators.
• Decommissioning Tools Adjustable lifting tools ranging from 20 to 50 inches for lifting, recovery and decommissioning of subsea structures and pipelines, minimising offshore operations and vessel time. Sold to offshore oil and gas operators.
• Pipeline Removal Tool (PRT) Tool for laying, commissioning and recovery of subsea pipelines ranging from 2 to 48 inches with loads only limited by pipeline capacity, featuring dewatering and pig catching capabilities. Sold to offshore oil and gas operators.

Quantifiable outcome

• Zero field failures and 100% reliability across mooring connectors
• +2 more outcomes

Named customers1 record

Segments2 records

Ideal customer profiles2 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature9 records

Partnerships

Twelve partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• First Tech GroupcoreOthers · 1 January 2024First Subsea has been part of the First Tech Group since 2004 when Aberdeen-based First Tech Group acquired BSW (now First Subsea). First Tech Group is a leading supplier to the offshore Oil, Gas and Renewable industries and includes sister companies: First Integrated, First Marine Solutions, First Competence, North Sea Compactors, Tusk Lifting, Mooring Systems, and Andrews Survey.
• Global Wind Energy Council (GWEC)minorGTM or Marketing Partner · 1 January 2024First Subsea participated in the GWEC APAC Wind Energy Summit in South Korea as part of the UK Pavilion. GWEC provided the platform for First Subsea to create new contacts and share cable protection and quick connection systems for fixed and floating offshore wind in the APAC region.
• GREAT Trade and Investment / Department for Business and TrademinorGTM or Marketing Partner · 1 January 2024UK government trade bodies arranged the UK Pavilion at the GWEC APAC Wind Energy Summit. Provided support before and during the show for First Subsea's participation in highlighting UK businesses within the offshore Wind market.
• RWEcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2024RWE, a major offshore wind developer, invited First Subsea's Sales Manager Dan Bate to present and participate in the East Coast Supplier Engagement Day panel discussion in Grimsby. Represents active commercial engagement with a leading offshore wind operator.
• First Integrated SolutionscoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2004Sister company within First Tech Group offering equipment rental, lifting equipment manufacturing, and inspection and testing services. First Subsea exhibits at First Integrated Open Days and works collaboratively with the group.
• First Marine SolutionscoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2004Sister company offering mooring solutions, offshore equipment rental and sales, and engineering and project management services. Part of the First Tech Group ecosystem.
• First CompetenceminorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2004Sister company offering safety products and programmes, compliance reviews and audits, and training assessments and VR learning. Part of the First Tech Group.
• North Sea CompactorsminorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2004Sister company manufacturing offshore waste compactors and balers, with maintenance and supply logistics. Part of the First Tech Group.
• Tusk LiftingminorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ Distributor · 1 January 2004Sister company acting as lifting equipment supplier with extensive product range and offshore equipment hire and sales. Part of the First Tech Group.
• Mooring SystemsminorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2004Sister company offering Tri-Catenary Mooring Systems, spooler rental, and offshore equipment hire. Part of the First Tech Group.
• Andrews SurveyminorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2004Sister company offering range of survey and positioning services supporting online and offline remote operations. Part of the First Tech Group.
• Kintech Energy LtdcoreTechnology or IntegrationCollaboration with Kintech Energy Ltd for the Resin Free Hang-off (RFHO) product. First Subsea offers the RFHO featuring unique design incorporating flanges and gaskets with upper sealing system for pressure resistant seal in air-tight platforms. Enables cable hang-off solutions for monopile structures, jacket foundations, substation J-tubes and floating wind structures.

Scale indicators13 records

Recent moves11 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Broad incumbents

• Trelleborg Group: Trelleborg's offshore operation (Trelleborg Offshore) is a large incumbent in polymer-based subsea products including cable protection, bend stiffeners, and buoyancy products. Directly comparable to First Subsea's CPS and Proshell lines, with a much broader portfolio and global footprint.
• Balmoral Comtec: Balmoral provides subsea buoyancy, cable protection, and thermal insulation products for offshore wind and oil & gas. Overlaps with First Subsea in cable protection and subsea equipment, though Balmoral offers a wider product portfolio including structural protection.
• Bridon-Bekaert (The Ropes Group): Bridon-Bekaert is a major manufacturer of mooring ropes and steel wire ropes used in offshore floating structures. Adjacent to First Subsea's mooring connector business, often specified together in floating wind mooring systems.
• Oceaneering International: Oceaneering is a global subsea engineering and intervention services firm with a broad offshore energy portfolio including intervention tooling, ROV operations, and SURF equipment. Comparable to First Subsea for offshore installation tooling and subsea equipment, though much larger and more diversified.

Direct peers

• Tekmar Energy: Tekmar Energy is a UK-based specialist in subsea cable protection systems for offshore wind, including bend stiffeners and J-tube seals. Directly competes with First Subsea's CPS and Proshell products in the same offshore wind customer base.
• Vryhof: Vryhof is a specialist in offshore mooring systems and connectors, including the Stevpris anchor and mooring chain solutions. Directly comparable to First Subsea's SMC and PMC mooring connector lines, serving both offshore wind and oil & gas floating structures.
• Delmar Systems: Delmar Systems provides offshore mooring services and equipment, including temporary and permanent mooring solutions. Comparable to First Subsea's SMC offering for offshore installations, with strong presence in oil & gas.
• MacArtney Group: MacArtney supplies subsea connectors, cables, and underwater technology for offshore wind, oil & gas, and ocean science. Overlaps with First Subsea in subsea connection technology and serves a similar customer base.

Emerging players

• STOPFORD Technology: STOPFORD is a UK-based engineering firm specializing in offshore mooring and quick-connect systems for floating wind and marine energy. Closely aligned with First Subsea's PMC technology for floating offshore wind applications.
• JDR Cable Systems: JDR manufactures subsea power cables and termination systems for offshore wind. Tangentially related, as First Subsea's cable protection systems are commonly specified alongside JDR's cables in offshore wind inter-array and export circuits.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• LinkedInuk.linkedin.com/company/first-subsea
• Xx.com/firstsubsea

Compliance3 records

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles8 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

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 First Subsea