Shearwater Marine Services

What Shearwater Marine Services does

Shearwater Marine Services Ltd (registered in Scotland, SC137036) is a privately held, founder-owned commercial diving and marine engineering contractor founded in 1992 by Alastair Baird and Tom Brannan, headquartered at Sandbank Business Park, Dunoon, on Scotland's Cowal Peninsula. The company delivers services above and below the waterline across two divisions — Subsea Engineering (defence in-water support, marine civil engineering/construction/repair, specialist survey and inspection, and offshore renewables support) and Surface Engineering (fabrication and welding, marine engineering support, dive technicians and plant maintenance, and R&D). It serves the Ministry of Defence and naval bases (primary diving contractor since 1994 at HMNB Clyde, RNAD Coulport, and Rosyth Dockyards), ferry and maritime infrastructure operators (CalMac Ferries lead diving contractor since 2016, currently in a third 5-year framework term), offshore wind developers, civil engineering contractors, and leisure/cruise operators.

Technically, the business is built on surface-supplied commercial diving systems integrated with in-house subsea engineering, CAD design, fabrication, welding, and proprietary equipment. It operates a capital-intensive asset base: six dive support vessels, seven multifunctional workboats, five mobile dive control trailers, a dedicated dive callout van, a mobile surface-supplied RIB, and the 38m MV Sleat training vessel moored on the Holy Loch, which houses a D023 dive system and a containerised hyperbaric recompression chamber. Capabilities include Viewport3 3D sonar/point-cloud surveys, photogrammetry, subsea NDT (UT, MPI, ACFM, cathodic protection), Lloyds/DNV/ABS in-water hull surveys, and bespoke engineering such as the automated Gangway Deployment System developed for the Spirit of Discovery and the underwater wet-mix grout remediation system used at Kilcreggan Berth.

The revenue model is project-based professional services, billing for engineering labour, equipment/vessel deployment, and project delivery through one-off contracts and multi-year framework agreements (e.g., CalMac, MOD infrastructure). Go-to-market is sales-led and direct, driven by public procurement/tendering, framework renewals, and industry referrals, supported by JOSCAR registration and extensive accreditations (ISO 9001/14001/45001 via DNV, Lloyd's Register Approved Contractor, BS EN 1090-1, Cyber Essentials Plus). A sister company, the Professional Diving Academy (established 2004), generates training revenue including MOD Enhanced Learning Credits–funded courses. Pricing is bespoke and quote-based with no published tiers.

Name

Shearwater Marine Services

Legal name

Shearwater Marine Services Ltd

Website

https://shearwatermarine.co.uk

Company type

Private

Founded year

1992

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

51–100 employees

Short description

Shearwater Marine Services is a Scotland-based commercial diving and marine engineering contractor providing subsea and surface engineering, civil works, underwater inspection, fabrication, and offshore renewables support to the UK Ministry of Defence, ferry and infrastructure operators, and energy clients.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Commercial Diving and Marine Engineering Services

NAICS

Ship Building and Repairing (336611), Support Activities for Water Transportation (4883), Other Support Activities for Water Transportation (48839)

SIC

Ship & Boat Building & Repairing (3730), Oil & Gas Field Services, Nec (1389)

akta.pro primary industry

Underwater Inspection, Maintenance & Repair (UWILD, Diving/ROV, In-water Cleaning) (IMAJAFAJ)

akta.pro secondary industries

Underwater Hull Services (Diving, In-Water Cleaning, Propeller Polishing, Inspection) (TLAHAMAL), Underwater Hull Inspection, Cleaning & Propeller Services (TLAKAKAJ), Marine Service Provider Coordination (Diving, Inspection, Class/Survey Support) (TLAHAJAI), Offshore Marine & Aviation Support (PSVs, AHTS, Crew Boats, Helicopters) (EUALABAJ)

Keywords

• Commercial diving services
• Marine engineering services
• Subsea inspection services
• Marine civil engineering
• Offshore diving support

Headquarters

HQ city

Dunoon

HQ country

United Kingdom

HQ region

Europe

Offices4 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. Subsea and Marine Engineering Project Services: Shearwater earns revenue through project-based contracts for diving, marine civil engineering, and subsea services. Revenue is generated from both one-off projects and multi-year framework agreements with key clients. The company operates with a professional services revenue model, billing for engineering labour, equipment deployment, and project delivery.
2. Fabrication and Welding Services: Revenue is earned from structural steel fabrication, underwater welding, and surface welding services. Accredited to BS EN 1090-1 Exc 3 by British Engineering, with welding procedures accredited by Lloyd's Register and LRQA. Services are billed on a project basis.
3. Training and Education Services: Through sister company the Professional Diving Academy, Shearwater generates revenue from commercial diver training courses, including those funded by the MOD Enhanced Learning Credits (ELC) Scheme for eligible service leavers.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels4 records

Core offering

Shearwater Marine Services provides commercial diving and marine engineering services spanning subsea and surface disciplines, including defence in-water engineering support, marine civil engineering, specialist survey and inspection, offshore renewables support, fabrication and welding, and marine engineering support. The company operates a fleet of dive support vessels, mobile dive equipment, and the MV Sleat training vessel, delivering integrated solutions for defence, ferry operators, ports, renewable energy developers, and construction clients across the UK.

Product overview

Shearwater Marine Services provides a comprehensive portfolio of commercial diving and marine engineering services, structured as two primary divisions: Subsea Engineering (underwater services including defence in-water support, civil engineering/construction/repair, specialist survey and inspection, and offshore renewables support) and Surface Engineering (topside fabrication and welding, marine engineering support, dive technicians and plant maintenance, and research and development). The company operates a fleet of six dive support vessels plus the MV Sleat training vessel, and mobile dive equipment. Key products include the innovative Gangway Deployment System developed for the leisure industry. The service offering is delivered through eight distinct service modules supported by specialised equipment assets including vessels, recompression chambers, and mobile dive trailers.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Civil Engineering, Construction & Repair Marine civil engineering services delivering infrastructure solutions including underwater welding and repairs, pier and slipway repairs, cathodic protection, pipeline installation and inspection, canal inspection and remedial works, fender and mooring installations, anti-scour protection, and grit blasting and protective coatings. Targeted at construction companies, renewable energy providers, the Ministry of Defence, local government agencies, utilities providers, ports and harbours authorities, consultant engineering firms, and shipping and ferry companies.
• Defence In-Water Engineering Support Specialist diving and engineering services for the defence sector providing 24/7 maintenance and inspection support for naval bases including HMNB Clyde and RNAD Coulport. Includes dedicated dive support vessels equipped with surface-supplied dive equipment and diver recovery systems.
• Specialist Survey & Inspection Services Comprehensive subsea inspection services including General Visual Inspection (GVI), Close Visual Inspection (CVI), and Non-Destructive Testing (NDT). Offers vessel inspections accredited for Lloyds, DNV, and ABS Class In-water hull surveys, along with topside NDT and seabed surveys with GPS location.
• Supporting Offshore Renewables Diving services supporting UK energy infrastructure including cable installations and shore landings, foundation and j-tube repairs, anti-scour protection installation, UXO investigations, cathodic protection inspections, steel thickness surveys, grout seal repairs, sonar removal and replacement, cable surveys and adjustments, and internal monopile diving support.
• Fabrication & Welding Services Marine welding and fabrication solutions including underwater welding repairs using surface-supplied divers. Accredited to BS EN 1090-1 Exc 3 by British Engineering, with welding procedures accredited by Lloyd's Register and LRQA. Includes structural steel fabrication and CE marking processes.
• Marine Engineering Support Manpower and technical engineering solutions providing highly skilled engineers, qualified technicians, and competent crew members. Includes vessel refurbishment and maintenance, equipment installation, maintenance, and commissioning services, adhering to local, international, and defence standards.
• Dive Technicians & Plant Maintenance In-house team of technicians and engineers providing maintenance for diving and life support equipment. Experts in IMCA D023 standards, supporting dive system operations and vessel and plant maintenance for the fleet.
• Research & Development Engineering team conducts R&D projects to enhance standards and quality of in-water processes and onshore marine challenges. Provides bespoke solutions for unique marine challenges through advanced technology and experienced professionals.
• Gangway Deployment System Innovative mechanical gangway deployment system developed for the leisure industry to address manual handling safety concerns, automating deployment of a 400kg passenger gangway. The solution involved in-house engineering design, CAD modelling, FMEA analysis, CE marking, LRQA welding procedures, NDT inspection, load testing, and shipyard installation. Successfully deployed on the Spirit of Discovery cruise vessel.
• Commercial Diver Training (via Professional Diving Academy) Commercial diver training courses delivered through sister company the Professional Diving Academy, offering training for inshore and offshore operations using the MV Sleat training vessel. Includes courses funded by the MOD Enhanced Learning Credits (ELC) Scheme for eligible service leavers.

Quantifiable outcome

• Successful completion of the Kilcreggan Berth Void Remediation project — filled over 100 cubic meters of underwater void with wet mix grout under NEC4 Option A contract valued at £400k
• +3 more outcomes

Named customers7 records

Segments5 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature6 records

Partnerships

Nine partnerships are on record, tiered core, flagship and minor.

• AECOMcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerEngineering consultancy that collaborated with Shearwater on the Kilcreggan Berth Void Remediation project, conducting inspections and monitoring of the berth structure and working jointly to develop the remediation solution using UW grout bags and steel plate shuttering.
• George Leslie LtdcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPrime contractor for the Dunoon Victorian Pier restoration project, acting on behalf of Argyll and Bute Council. Shearwater was subcontracted by George Leslie to deliver the underwater and surface engineering scope.
• Ministry of Defence / Enhanced Learning Credits (ELC) SchemecoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerShearwater Marine Services and sister company Professional Diving Academy have partnered with the MOD's Enhanced Learning Credits Scheme as a registered Learning Provider. This partnership enables eligible service leavers to access fully funded training courses through ELCAS.
• Amazon Web Services (AWS) and Make UK Defence (Vanguard Programme)flagshipTechnology or IntegrationAWS and Make UK Defence jointly deliver the Vanguard Programme. Shearwater is one of five SMEs selected for this three-year programme providing AWS cloud credits, specialist technical training, direct access to AWS engineers and sector experts, and tailored business development mentorship. The programme aims to drive innovation in simulation, data analytics, document management, and production optimisation.
• CalMac FerriesflagshipStrategic or Co-development PartnerShearwater has been CalMac Ferries' lead diving contractor since 2016, supporting their 31-vessel fleet and harbour operations with emergency and planned diving support services. Currently in their third 5-year framework term.
• Career Transition Partnership (CTP)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerShearwater works with the MOD's Career Transition Partnership to support the employment of Service leavers, recognising military skills and qualifications in its recruitment and selection process.
• DNVcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerDNV is the certification body for Shearwater's ISO 9001:2015, ISO 14001:2015, and ISO 45001:2018 accreditations, demonstrating commitment to quality management, environmental protection, and occupational health and safety.
• Lloyd's RegistercoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerShearwater's welding procedures are accredited by Lloyd's Register and LRQA. Lloyd's Register also conducted inspections on the Gangway Deployment System project for Spirit of Discovery. Shearwater is an LR Approved Contractor.
• Dunoon Business Improvement District (BID)minorOthersShearwater is a member of the Dunoon BID, a private-public partnership bringing together businesses to work collectively on projects benefiting the local community. Alastair Baird, a company director, sits on the BID's board. Through this partnership, Shearwater participates in initiatives that benefit the local economy and business community.

Scale indicators10 records

Recent moves7 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Broad incumbents

• Helix Energy Solutions: Helix Energy Solutions Group is an international subsea contractor providing well intervention, offshore operations, and subsea robotics services. While primarily oil & gas-focused, its subsea IMR and intervention capabilities are conceptually adjacent to Shearwater's diving-based inspection and intervention work.
• Ocean Infinity: Ocean Infinity is a marine survey and subsea technology company operating autonomous surface and subsea vehicles for inspection, hydrography, and asset integrity work. While technology-led and international, it competes with Shearwater for hydrographic, survey, and offshore wind inspection scopes.
• Saipem: Saipem is a global offshore engineering and construction contractor delivering subsea installation, pipelay, and offshore wind services. As a Tier 1 EPC, it competes indirectly with Shearwater for offshore wind scopes and sets the commercial benchmark against which Shearwater's specialist sub-contractor pricing is evaluated.
• DeepOcean: DeepOcean is a subsea services provider delivering IMR (inspection, maintenance, repair), survey, and offshore installation to oil & gas and offshore wind clients. While larger and more internationally focused, it competes with Shearwater in the UK for subsea inspection, cable, and offshore wind scopes.
• Rever Offshore (formerly Bibby Offshore): Rever Offshore is a UK-based subsea contractor providing diving, ROV, and offshore construction support across North Sea and offshore wind markets. It overlaps with Shearwater's surface-supplied diving, survey, and offshore renewables offerings, though at materially larger project scale.
• James Fisher and Sons: James Fisher and Sons is a UK-listed marine services provider with a specialist diving and subsea division delivering in-water inspection, repair, and marine civil engineering to defence, energy, and ports — directly overlapping with Shearwater's core service portfolio. As a larger, diversified incumbent, it competes with Shearwater for similar framework work and contracts.
• UTEC (Acteon): UTEC, part of Acteon, provides survey, positioning, and subsea installation support services globally, including offshore wind and oil & gas. It is comparable to Shearwater in the survey and inspection domain, although typically operating at larger project scale and with broader geographic reach.

Direct peers

• Briggs Marine: Briggs Marine is a UK-based marine services contractor providing vessel maintenance, diving support, mooring, and port infrastructure services to ferry operators, ports, and defence clients. It competes with Shearwater for similar CalMac-style and harbour framework contracts.
• ROVCO: ROVCO is a UK-based subsea inspection and survey company using ROVs and 3D visualisation (including its SubSLAM technology) to deliver in-water surveys for offshore wind and marine infrastructure. It directly overlaps with Shearwater's underwater inspection, Viewport3 3D modelling, and offshore renewables service lines.

Emerging players

• MMT Sweden: MMT is a Swedish-based marine survey company delivering hydrographic, geophysical, and subsea inspection services with operations across Europe. It is comparable to Shearwater's offshore renewables and survey service modules and increasingly active in UK offshore wind — making it an emerging competitive peer in those specific scopes.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

Compliance11 records

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles5 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 Shearwater Marine Services