Ocean Surveys

What Ocean Surveys does

Ocean Surveys, Inc. (OSI) is a private marine survey professional services firm headquartered in Old Saybrook, Connecticut, operating since 1965. The company delivers hydrographic, oceanographic, geophysical, and geotechnical survey services across marine and freshwater environments. Core service lines include multibeam and single beam hydrographic surveys, side scan sonar and subbottom profiling, magnetometer surveys, vibratory and piston coring, grab sampling, ROV-based underwater inspections, and oceanographic monitoring (current velocity, water quality, thermal plumes, waves, tides, meteorology). The firm operates specialized survey vessels including R/V CanDu (37-foot pontoon) and R/V WilDu (30-foot pontoon), supported by proprietary custom-built equipment such as 40-foot vibratory corers, a Pneumatically Actuated Grab Sampler (PAGS), and a Sediment Profile Imaging (SPI) camera.

The company's client base spans U.S. federal agencies (NOAA, U.S. Army Corps of Engineers across multiple districts, EPA, USAID), state and municipal governments, and energy and infrastructure enterprises including nuclear power operators, offshore wind developers, and pipeline/cable owners. Notable engagements include hydrographic charting for NOAA since 1999, continuous USACE Philadelphia District beach profiling since 1994, survey services for the first U.S. offshore wind farm (Block Island), and international development-funded projects in Egypt, the Dominican Republic, and Honduras.

Ocean Surveys generates revenue through project-based professional services contracts awarded via competitive bidding and government procurement. Pricing is quote-based and project-specific, with revenue mechanics tied to mobilization, data acquisition, processing, and reporting deliverables. Distribution is direct-to-client through field/enterprise sales relationships; the firm does not rely on active marketing campaigns, instead leveraging its project portfolio, federal contracting relationships, and multi-decade reputation. Documented project footprint spans 38 U.S. states and 44 countries across 6 continents.

Name

Ocean Surveys

Legal name

Ocean Surveys, Inc.

Website

https://oceansurveys.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

1965

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

Ocean Surveys provides hydrographic, geophysical, oceanographic, and geotechnical marine survey services to federal agencies (NOAA, USACE, EPA), state and local governments, and energy clients across 38 U.S. states and 44 countries.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Marine Survey Services

NAICS

Geophysical Surveying and Mapping Services (54136), Surveying and Mapping (except Geophysical) Services (54137), Environmental Consulting Services (54162)

SIC

Services-Commercial Physical & Biological Research (8731), Oil & Gas Field Exploration Services (1382)

akta.pro primary industry

Nautical Safety, Navigation Aids & Hydrographic Services (TLAHAFAE)

Keywords

• Hydrographic survey services
• Marine geophysical surveys
• Oceanographic monitoring services
• Underwater inspection services
• Geotechnical sediment sampling

Headquarters

HQ city

Old Saybrook

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. Hydrographic Survey Services: Professional survey services for nautical charting, bathymetric mapping, and underwater inspections for government agencies and private sector clients. Services include multibeam surveys, side scan sonar, and detailed mapping deliverables.
2. Geophysical Survey Services: Marine geophysical investigations including subbottom profiling, magnetometer surveys, and geological assessments for offshore construction, cable routing, and archaeological investigations.
3. Oceanographic Monitoring Services: Environmental monitoring services including water quality monitoring, current velocity measurements, thermal plume characterization, and dye tracer studies for compliance and environmental assessment.
4. Geotechnical Sampling Services: Sediment sampling services including vibratory coring, piston coring, and grab sampling for geological, geotechnical, and contaminated sediment assessments.
5. Underwater Inspection Services: ROV-based inspections of underwater infrastructure, pipelines, cables, and structures using video documentation with precision positioning.

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels1 record

Marketing channels2 records

Core offering

Ocean Surveys provides professional hydrographic, geophysical, oceanographic, limnologic, and geotechnical survey services for government agencies and private-sector clients. Services include multibeam and single beam bathymetric surveys, side scan sonar, subbottom profiling, magnetometer surveys, vibratory and piston coring, sediment sampling, ROV-based underwater inspections, benthic habitat documentation, archaeological investigations, and oceanographic monitoring (current velocity, water quality, thermal plumes, waves, tides, meteorology). Deliverables span project planning, field data acquisition, processing, mapping products, and reporting, executed using proprietary shallow-draft vessels and advanced instrumentation deployed globally.

Product overview

Ocean Surveys is a marine survey services company offering a comprehensive portfolio of hydrographic, geophysical, oceanographic, and geotechnical survey services. The company's service offerings include multibeam and single beam surveys, side scan sonar, subbottom profiling, magnetometer surveys, vibratory and piston coring, sediment sampling, underwater inspections using ROV/video, benthic habitat documentation, archaeological investigations, and various oceanographic monitoring services (current velocity, water quality, turbidity, thermal plumes, waves, tides, meteorology). Services are delivered using specialized survey vessels including R/V CanDu and R/V WilDu pontoon boats, and various instrumentation such as ADCPs, CTDs, and positioning systems. The company also provides precise positioning and navigation services using GNSS, USBL, and HYPACK software integration for construction and inspection projects.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Multibeam Surveys

Quantifiable outcome

• Successfully completed site investigations in 38 states and 44 countries across 6 continents
• +3 more outcomes

Named customers18 records

Segments5 records

Ideal customer profiles5 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature7 records

Partnerships

Five partnerships are on record, tiered minor and core.

• T. Baker Smith & SonsminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerSubcontractor relationship for marsh restoration projects in Louisiana. OSI completed hydrographic/geophysical surveys and vibratory coring as subcontractor to T. Baker Smith on LDNR and EPA projects.
• Metcalf & Eddy InternationalminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerContractor relationship for USAID-funded wastewater treatment feasibility study in Alexandria, Egypt. OSI conducted multi-disciplinary survey program under contract to Metcalf & Eddy International.
• The Public Archaeology Laboratory, Inc.minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerSubcontractor relationship for marine archaeological assessment in Searsport Harbor, Maine. The Public Archaeology Laboratory was responsible for marine archaeology while OSI provided marine geophysical investigation.
• World BankminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerJoint project with Dominican Republic government for submarine wastewater outfall investigation. OSI conducted oceanographic and geophysical data collection supporting World Bank-funded infrastructure project.
• United States Environmental Protection Agency (EPA)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCollaborative relationship for environmental restoration projects. OSI conducted surveys and coring for marsh restoration investigations under EPA oversight and funding.

Scale indicators5 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights4 records

Emerging players

• Ocean Infinity: Marine data acquisition and subsea survey operator known for autonomous and remotely operated survey platforms; overlapping hydrographic and geophysical service offerings with a tech-enabled delivery model.

Broad incumbents

• Fugro: Global leader in geotechnical, hydrographic, and geophysical surveys across offshore wind, oil & gas, and infrastructure; competes with OSI on the same large survey tenders but at materially greater scale.
• Oceaneering International: Large marine services platform with subsea survey, ROV inspection, and offshore engineering capabilities; overlaps OSI in underwater inspection and survey but operates at far greater scale.
• Subsea 7: Global offshore contractor with survey and seabed-engineering capabilities supporting offshore wind and oil & gas; much broader scope but competes with OSI for survey and route engineering work.

Direct peers

• Reach Subsea: Norwegian subsea services firm providing survey, inspection, and ROV-based data acquisition for offshore energy and infrastructure; similar service portfolio with a regional European orientation.
• EGS Survey: International hydrographic and geophysical survey firm offering offshore site investigation, charting, and cable route surveys for offshore energy and infrastructure clients.
• CSA Ocean Sciences: Marine environmental sciences and hydrographic survey firm offering coastal surveying, oceanographic monitoring, and benthic habitat studies, with comparable multi-discipline marine survey capabilities for government and energy clients.
• W.F. Baird & Associates: Coastal, marine, and waterfront engineering consultancy offering hydrographic and oceanographic input to port, harbor, and shoreline projects; comparable in coastal engineering survey work.
• TerraSond: U.S.-based hydrographic, geophysical, and land survey firm delivering similar crewed-vessel charting and oceanographic services to federal and commercial clients; closely comparable in service scope and geographic focus.
• Gardline: International provider of marine geophysical, geotechnical, and environmental surveys using owned vessels and similar instrumentation; directly comparable technical service mix to OSI.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/oceansurveys
• Facebookfacebook.com/Ocean-Surveys-Inc-1662518947309063
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/ocean-surveys-inc-

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

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 Ocean Surveys