What Quiet-Oceans does

Quiet-Oceans SAS is a French ocean-acoustics technology company headquartered in Plouzané (Finistère), founded in 2010 as a spin-out from acoustic research at ENSTA Bretagne / IUEM, and acquired by CLS Group in 2024. The firm builds operational decision-support tooling for underwater anthropogenic noise, addressing environmental impact assessment (EIA) obligations imposed by the EU Marine Strategy Framework Directive (Descriptor 11) and the IMO Good Practice Guidelines for Quieter Oceans. Its core product is Quonops©, a patented operational platform that fuses physics-based acoustic propagation models with high-resolution oceanographic inputs (HYCOM3D from SHOM, Copernicus Marine Service) at 1.8 km spatial and hourly temporal resolution to forecast noise levels from shipping, offshore energy, and naval activity.

The commercial stack has three layers: (1) Quonops Online Services, a subscription/SaaS portal for self-service noise forecasting launched in September 2018; (2) bespoke EIA and regulatory-compliance consulting for offshore-wind, defense, and infrastructure projects; and (3) Smart-PAM, a real-time passive acoustic monitoring buoy co-developed with Sonsetc, which captures in-situ measurements to validate and calibrate the model outputs. Service extensions include the Coastal Ocean Noise Service with SHOM (2022), the Arctivities service with Noveltis (2019) for Arctic offshore planning, and Life-Sea Detect (2024), an anti-collision acoustic detection system for marine mammals targeting offshore wind and shipping.

The business model combines professional services (multi-year EIA contracts with naval, offshore-renewable, and government clients including Thales Underwater Systems, Naval Group/DCNS, SHOM, Nass&Wind Offshore, La Compagnie du Vent, ECA Robotics, and Bureau Veritas), subscription revenue from Quonops Online, hardware sales of Smart-PAM buoys, and EU research-grant funding (AQUO 2012–2015, STIRVE 2012–2013, Horizon 2020). Pricing is not publicly disclosed. The firm employs 11–50 people, is led by CEO Thomas Folegot, and operates as a subsidiary of CLS Group, providing distribution scale to public agencies and offshore developers worldwide.

Name

Quiet-Oceans

Legal name

QUIET-OCEANS SAS

Website

https://quiet-oceans.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

2010

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

Quiet-Oceans SAS, a Plouzané-based French firm acquired by CLS Group in 2024, operates the patented Quonops© platform for forecasting underwater anthropogenic noise and provides EIA consulting, subscription noise-modeling services, and Smart-PAM monitoring buoys to naval, offshore-renewable, and government clients.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Marine Environmental Consulting & Acoustic Monitoring

NAICS

Support Activities for Water Transportation (4883)

SIC

Industrial Instruments For Measurement, Display, And Control (3823)

akta.pro primary industry

Marine Sensors, Instrumentation & IoT (Condition Monitoring) (IMAJAJAI)

akta.pro secondary industries

Underwater Inspection, Maintenance & Repair (UWILD, Diving/ROV, In-water Cleaning) (IMAJAFAJ), Nautical Safety, Navigation Aids & Hydrographic Services (TLAHAFAE)

Keywords

• Underwater noise forecasting
• Marine acoustic monitoring
• Ocean noise mitigation
• Marine environmental consulting
• Passive acoustic monitoring

Headquarters

HQ city

Plouzané

HQ country

France

HQ region

Europe

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. Environmental Impact Assessment Services: Consulting and professional services for acoustic impact assessments, risk management, noise mitigation recommendations, and monitoring protocols for maritime projects. Services include pre-construction evaluation, predictive evaluation, and implementation of protective measures.
2. Quonops Online Services Platform: Subscription-based web platform providing underwater sound mapping services. Can be combined with physical buoys to analyze in-situ measured data. Targets governments, marine protected areas managers, offshore developers, and researchers.
3. Underwater Measurement Systems: Sale and deployment of proprietary measurement buoys and instrumentation systems developed for marine research and manufacturing projects.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels6 records

Core offering

Quiet-Oceans forecasts, monitors, and mitigates anthropogenic underwater noise through its patented Quonops© software platform, which simulates and predicts marine noise levels by integrating oceanographic, acoustic, and ship traffic data. The firm sells Quonops Online Services (a subscription web interface), Smart-PAM autonomous monitoring buoys, and bespoke consulting services covering noise impact assessment, regulatory compliance (notably MSFD), and mitigation strategies for clients in marine renewables, maritime construction, defence, and conservation.

Product overview

Quiet-Oceans offers a unified product ecosystem centered on its proprietary Quonops© patented technology platform and the Quonops Online Services web application. These core products provide underwater noise forecasting, monitoring, and mitigation services for marine renewable energy, maritime construction, and environmental compliance. The portfolio includes specialized services for MSFD Descriptor 11 compliance, zone monitoring using proprietary instrumentation, and the Smart-PAM real-time passive acoustic monitoring buoy system. The company operates as a CLS Group company, combining 15+ years of expertise in oceanographic engineering and marine acoustic research.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Quonops© Platform Patented software platform for forecasting, monitoring, and mitigating anthropogenic underwater noise through integrated oceanographic and acoustic modeling. Used by marine renewables developers, regulators, and researchers.
• Quonops Online Services Web-based subscription interface delivering Quonops© noise forecasting and monitoring outputs to clients on a self-service basis for project planning and compliance.
• Smart-PAM Buoy Autonomous passive acoustic monitoring buoy for continuous in-situ underwater noise measurement and real-time detection of marine mammals and piling activity.
• Noise Forecasting Services Bespoke consulting engagements that use Quonops© to predict noise levels from construction activities (e.g., offshore wind piling) to support EIA and permitting.
• Zone Monitoring Services Continuous characterization and mapping of underwater noise in defined marine zones, supporting MSFD reporting and protected-area management.
• Noise Mitigation Consulting Advisory services for designing and implementing noise reduction strategies, including bubble curtains and operational scheduling, to meet regulatory thresholds.
• MSFD Compliance Services Noise assessment services aligned with the EU Marine Strategy Framework Directive Descriptor 11 (anthropogenic noise) and Descriptor 2 (non-indigenous species) reporting obligations.
• Coastal Ocean Noise Service Coastal-scale underwater noise mapping service for monitoring noise trends in coastal regions relevant to marine protected areas and coastal development.

Quantifiable outcome

• First global online prediction system for ocean noise
• +2 more outcomes

Named customers9 records

Segments7 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed Yes

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Integration3 records

AI capability4 records

Feature5 records

Partnerships

14 partnerships are on record, tiered major, minor and core.

• SonsetcmajorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2016Partnership with spin-off of Laboratory of Bioacoustic Applications at Polytechnic University of Barcelona (Spain) for Smart-PAM project. Sonsetc contributed to development of real-time passive acoustic monitoring buoy system.
• AQUO Project ConsortiummajorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2012European joint research project 2012-2015. Aim: reduce underwater noise footprint of shipping to protect marine fauna and flora. Solutions to influence design of future naval and civilian ships and maritime traffic regulations. Co-authored with Bureau Veritas at World Ocean Council Summit.
• Strive Project (Ireland)minorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2012Irish project 2012-2013. Aim: characterize acoustic Environmental Status of Irish waters in compliance with Marine Strategy Framework Directive.
• CLS GroupcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerQuiet-Oceans has joined the CLS Group, a global leader in environmental monitoring and resource management with 40 years of experience. This acquisition combines Quiet-Oceans' underwater noise expertise with CLS's extensive international network and wildlife/biodiversity protection capabilities.
• SHOM (Service Hydrographique et Océanographique de la Marine)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerStrategic partnership to integrate SHOM's HYCOM3D coastal oceanographic model with Quiet-Oceans' Quonops© noise mapping platform. The Mediterranean HYCOM3D configuration provides high-resolution physical process modeling including tidal fronts, fluvial plumes, tides, and internal waves. Project supported by Copernicus Marine Service.
• Copernicus Marine ServicecoreTechnology or IntegrationPartnership to provide operational underwater noise mapping under EU Marine Strategy Framework Directive. Quiet-Oceans uses Copernicus Marine Service oceanographic data (temperature, salinity, surface waves) to map distribution of anthropogenic and natural sound in the ocean.
• Mercator OceanmajorTechnology or IntegrationPartnership initiated to provide operational underwater noise mapping service addressing EU Marine Strategy Framework Directive under Copernicus Marine Environment Monitoring Service. Focus on coastal and operational noise mapping demonstrations.
• NoveltismajorStrategic or Co-development PartnerCo-developed Arctivities operational service for displaying Arctic marine activity indicators. Quiet-Oceans contributed noise modeling using Quonops to characterize spatio-temporal distribution of anthropic noise levels in Arctic waters.
• Life-Sea Detect Project ConsortiummajorStrategic or Co-development PartnerQuiet-Oceans leads demonstration of anti-collision infrastructure based on passive underwater acoustic sensors to reduce ship strikes on Fin and Sperm whales. Partners include Bureau Veritas and Tethys Research Institute. Demonstration scheduled along Mediterranean shipping routes.
• Tethys Research InstitutemajorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartner in Life-Sea Detect project for whale collision prevention. Contributes to demonstration of anti-collision infrastructure using passive acoustic sensors in the Mediterranean.
• Bureau Veritas Marine & OffshoremajorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartner in Life-Sea Detect project. Contributes to demonstration of anti-collision infrastructure for whale protection in Mediterranean shipping lanes.
• Technopole Brest IroiseminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerR&D partner and technology cluster supporting marine technology innovation in Brest region. Collaborative relationship for marine science and technology development.
• Pôle Mer BretagneminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerMaritime competitiveness cluster (Cluster Maritime Français) partner for marine industry development and innovation in Brittany region.
• European CommissionmajorStrategic or Co-development PartnerActive contributor to European Commission Technical SubGroup on Underwater Noise (TSG noise). Contributed to Monitoring Guidance for Underwater Noise in European Seas reports. Partner in multiple EU-funded research projects including AQUO, BIAS, and MARVEN.

Scale indicators5 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Direct peers

• dBSea: Provides underwater noise mapping and prediction software for offshore wind, oil and gas, and marine construction projects. Directly competes with the Quonops Online Services platform in underwater noise modeling.
• SMRU Consulting: Marine mammal and underwater noise consulting firm supporting offshore development EIAs and regulatory compliance. Closely comparable to Quiet-Oceans' professional services side for marine renewable energy and shipping clients.
• JASCO Applied Sciences: Specialist underwater acoustics and environmental consulting firm providing noise impact assessments, monitoring, and modeling for offshore energy, defense, and government clients. Directly competes with Quiet-Oceans in marine noise forecasting, EIAs, and PAM services.
• Ocean Sonics: Designs and manufactures underwater acoustic recording systems (hydrophones, sound recorders) used for marine noise monitoring and marine mammal research. Comparable to Quiet-Oceans on the Smart-PAM buoy hardware side.
• RTSYS (SEAwise): French-based designer and manufacturer of underwater acoustic systems, autonomous recording units, and PAM solutions. Comparable to Quiet-Oceans on underwater acoustic hardware, sensors, and monitoring instrumentation.
• CSA Ocean Sciences: Marine environmental consulting firm offering acoustic monitoring, noise impact studies, and PAM services for offshore energy and government clients. Direct competitor in the underwater noise EIA workflow.

Broad incumbents

• Kongsberg Maritime: Major marine technology vendor offering sonar, acoustic positioning, and underwater sensing systems for defense, offshore, and scientific customers. Broad incumbent competing in adjacent segments of underwater acoustic hardware and integrated maritime systems.
• CLS Group: Parent company since 2024. Global environmental monitoring and satellite-based ocean observation firm with a broad portfolio spanning marine wildlife tracking, fisheries, and offshore operators. Sets the strategic and commercial frame for Quiet-Oceans' future direction.
• Fugro: Global geotechnical and marine survey services firm with significant offshore wind site characterization and marine environmental services. Overlaps with Quiet-Oceans where offshore wind developers require integrated survey + noise EIA packages.
• Bureau Veritas Marine & Offshore: Global marine classification and certification society that performs ship and offshore compliance work, including as a partner of Quiet-Oceans on the Life-Sea Detect project. Potential competitor if it expands in-house noise monitoring services.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/quiet-oceans

Compliance1 record

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles2 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 Quiet-Oceans