What ACMA does

Alan C. McClure Associates, Inc. (ACMA) is a privately held naval architecture and marine engineering consultancy founded in 1975 and headquartered in Katy, Texas (Houston metropolitan area). The firm provides comprehensive engineering services spanning new vessel design, vessel modification, shipyard management, hydrostatics, hydrodynamics, structural analysis, surveys and inspections, and legal/arbitration support. Its primary client base consists of major offshore petroleum operators (ExxonMobil, Shell, ConocoPhillips, Chevron, Transocean), international shipyards (Hyundai Heavy Industries, Keppel Offshore & Marine), marine transportation companies, and government agencies (NOAA, TxDOT). The company has participated in 18 FPSO conversions and 4 new builds across its history, with the Helix Producer 1 representing its 26th floating production project.

ACMA's technical capabilities are anchored in industry-standard engineering software, including Computational Fluid Dynamics (CFD) via HELYX and STAR CCM+, Finite Element Analysis (FEA) using ANSYS, hydrostatics analysis with GHS, and seakeeping analysis with ANSYS-AQWA. The firm operates a high-performance computing cluster (48 processor cores) that enables 'virtual tow tank' analysis, delivering faster and lower-cost hydrodynamic evaluations than traditional physical model testing. Specialized service lines include offshore wind engineering (turbine component transport systems and installation vessel design), CNG/LNG vessel design, SWATH crewboat engineering, and forensic/expert witness services for marine legal disputes.

The business operates as a B2B professional services firm with project-based, quote-based pricing and multi-year contract structures. Revenue is generated entirely through direct client engagement, acquired via industry reputation, professional network referrals, and direct business development. The company maintains a flexible team staffing model where personnel contribute to projects on part-time or full-time basis to optimize resource utilization. ACMA is family-owned and led by President Scott McClure (son of founder Alan C. McClure), with no disclosed institutional investment or acquisition activity, indicating an organic, founder-led operating model.

Name

ACMA

Legal name

Alan C. McClure Associates, Inc.

Website

https://acma-inc.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

1975

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

ACMA is a privately held naval architecture and marine engineering consultancy founded in 1975, providing vessel design, hydrodynamics, CFD analysis, and structural engineering services to offshore petroleum operators, shipyards, and government clients internationally.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Headquarters

HQ city

Houston

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Revenue model

1. Engineering and Design Services: Professional services revenue generated from providing naval architecture, marine engineering, hydrostatics, hydrodynamics, and structural analysis services. Projects include new vessel design, vessel modification, and construction support with fees structured as project-based engagements.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels1 record

Marketing channels8 records

Core offering

ACMA provides naval architecture and marine engineering services including vessel design, hydrodynamics and hydrostatics analysis, structural analysis, project management, computational fluid dynamics (CFD) analysis, and construction support. The firm delivers conceptual studies, FEED/contract design, vessel modification, shipyard management, surveys and inspections, and expert witness support for offshore petroleum, marine transportation, and government clients.

Product overview

Alan C. McClure Associates (ACMA) provides comprehensive naval architecture and marine engineering services as a technology-enabled consultancy rather than a software product company. Their service portfolio spans core engineering disciplines—Design/Drafting, Marine Engineering, Project Management, Hydrostatics, Hydrodynamics, Structural Analysis, and Surveys & Inspections—supported by specialized offerings in Offshore Wind, Legal/Arbitration, and Pre-FEED through Construction Support services. Their analytical work leverages Computational Fluid Dynamics (CFD) using HELYX and STAR CCM+ software, Finite Element Analysis (FEA) via ANSYS, and hydrostatics/seakeeping tools including GHS and AQWA. Project types include offshore production systems (FPSO/FPU conversions and new builds), special vessel designs (CNG/LNG carriers, SWATH crewboats, ferries, well testing vessels), and environmental vessels. The company operates as a services firm delivering engineering design, analysis, project oversight, and expert witness support to the offshore petroleum, marine transportation, and renewable energy industries.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Design/Drafting Services Naval architecture design services producing detailed engineering drawings including scantlings, foundation design, general arrangements, lines plans, tank capacity plans, and one-line diagrams for hydraulic and electrical systems, delivered to shipyards and offshore operators.
• Marine Engineering Services Systems design, equipment integration, and engineering advisory covering auxiliary engine selection, piping system design, material selection, systems integration, HVAC, and exhaust/hydraulic system design for marine vessels.
• Project Management Services Professional project management including Gantt charts, resource management, change management, project scheduling, cost estimates, and owner's representative services for marine engineering projects.
• Hydrostatics Analysis Services Vessel floating, stability, and strength analysis using GHS software, covering intact/damage stability, longitudinal strength, floodable lengths, trim calculations, and loading manuals for marine vessels.
• Hydrodynamics Analysis Services Fluid dynamics analysis including resistance/powering, resistance reduction, trim optimization, seakeeping, mooring system design, passing ship analysis, and passenger comfort using AQWA and CFD tools.
• Structural Analysis Services Hull and structural analysis using FEA (ANSYS), including hull scantlings, rule calculations, crane/large structure installation, global/local FEA, thermal FEA, fatigue analysis, and composite analysis for steel, aluminum, and composite materials.

Quantifiable outcome

• 18 FPSO conversions and 4 new builds completed over company history
• +3 more outcomes

Named customers28 records

Segments4 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

AI capability2 records

Feature6 records

Partnerships

14 partnerships are on record, tiered minor and core.

• Iceberg Project Services (IPS)minorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 28 March 2011Professional alliance formed in March 2011 for collaborative project execution in the offshore industry.
• Nautex, Inc.minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerListed as a strategic partner in ACMA's partner network, though specific partnership details are not publicly disclosed.
• NetscominorStrategic or Co-development PartnerListed as a strategic partner with website www.netsco.us for potential collaborative opportunities.
• 3D Marine USA Inc.minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerListed as a strategic partner providing marine industry services collaboration.
• DMCG Project SolutionsminorImplementation/ SI/ Consulting PartnerListed as a strategic partner providing project solutions services at www.dmcg.net.
• ETA International Inc.minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerListed as a strategic partner with website etainc.org.
• Peterson ConsultingminorImplementation/ SI/ Consulting PartnerStrategic partner for consulting services specializing in coating consulting at petersencoatingconsulting.com.
• Noble Associates LLCminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerMarine, Offshore and Arctic Technology Advisors listed as strategic partner for specialized technical consulting.
• Lloyd Engineering, Inc.minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerListed as a strategic partner providing engineering services at www.lloydeng.com.
• Kellogg/Brown & RootcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerMajor engineering and construction company listed as a key client, indicating ongoing project relationship.
• IHC Caland N.V.coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerInternational maritime group listed as a key client for offshore and marine projects.
• CH2MHillcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerMajor engineering firm listed as a key client for maritime and offshore projects.
• Jacobs EngineeringcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerMajor engineering firm listed as a key client for project collaboration.
• Keppel Offshore & MarinecoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerLeading offshore and marine group listed as a key client for vessel design and construction projects.

Scale indicators4 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• Herbert Engineering Corp. Boutique naval architecture consultancy providing vessel design, conversions, and marine engineering for offshore and commercial marine sectors — directly competes with ACMA for FPSO/vessel design scopes.
• Elliott Bay Design Group: U.S.-based naval architecture and marine engineering firm delivering vessel design and production support for commercial, government, and offshore clients — directly comparable boutique competitor to ACMA.
• Robert Allan Ltd. Specialized naval architecture firm focused on working vessels, tugs, and patrol boats, offering concept/contract design and CFD-driven analysis — closely aligned with ACMA's vessel design and hydrodynamics practice.
• MODEC International: FPSO/FPS contractor and engineering partner for floating production systems, a repeat ACMA client/partner on conversion scopes — comparable in FPSO engineering depth but with shipyard-level scale.
• Glosten: Independent naval architecture and marine engineering consultancy of comparable size, serving offshore, governmental, and commercial marine clients with concept design through construction support — the closest analog to ACMA's service model.

Broad incumbents

• BMT Group: Larger multidisciplinary marine engineering consultancy with naval architecture, CFD, and offshore design capabilities globally — competes for the same FPSO/conversion briefs but at materially greater scale and geographic reach.
• DNV: Global classification and maritime advisory firm with naval architecture, structural, and risk services — a broader incumbent that competes for owner's engineering and verification scopes adjacent to ACMA.
• SBM Offshore: Global FPSO turnkey contractor with in-house naval architecture and conversion engineering — competes with the same IOC clients ACMA serves and frames the conversion engineering space at much larger scale.
• American Bureau of Shipping (ABS): Major classification society that also performs engineering and FEED-style advisory work for offshore and marine projects; competes at the rule/standards-engineering boundary where ACMA's FEA and rule calculations are performed.

Emerging players

• GustoMSC: Specialized offshore engineering firm focused on mobile offshore units and wind foundation/installation vessel design — increasingly competes for the offshore wind work ACMA is targeting.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/acma_inc
• YouTubeyoutube.com/user/ACMAinc
• Facebookfacebook.com/AlanCMcClure
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/15278912

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 ACMA