AquaSpec Limited
AquaSpec Limited is a UK-based manufacturer founded in 1995 that designs and sells SOLAS-certified LED marine safety lights — including lifejacket, lifebuoy, liferaft, and signal lights — to commercial shipping fleets, military/defense, offshore operators, and leisure boaters globally.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded1995
- HeadquartersSouthampton, United Kingdom
- Headcount1–10
- GTM typeB2B
- OfferingHardware or Manufacturing
What AquaSpec Limited does
AquaSpec Limited is a UK-based private limited company founded in 1995 and headquartered in Southampton, Hampshire, that designs and manufactures SOLAS-compliant marine safety lighting. Its product portfolio spans lifejacket lights (AQ40L, AQ40S, AQ8A, AQLNK-AL15 aviation variant), lifebuoy lights (AQLBL, AQLBA, AQLBLTX ATEX-certified), liferaft lights (AQLRL), and signal lights (AQERSL Electronic Rescue Signal Light, AQFLA Morse Signal Torch). Core technology is built around high-performance LED illumination with proprietary features including automatic water-activation sensors, gravity-sensor LED heads that keep the lamp above the waterline, and extended-duration lithium battery systems — notably the AQ40 range offering 40+ hours of continuous operation and 2.5cd+ brightness, materially exceeding the 8-hour/0.75cd SOLAS minimums.
The business sells primarily through a quote-based B2B model with batch orders in multiples of 50 units, supplemented by distribution via Google Shopping across 25+ countries, Amazon UK, and specialist maritime retailers including Bigship (Europe) and Nemad (Netherlands). Customer segments are commercial shipping fleets (primary), military/defense (with NATO stock number for the AQ40L), offshore/maritime operators (including hazardous-zone ATEX applications), and leisure/recreational boaters. The company has accumulated regulatory approvals across MED, UK MER, USCG, IMO SOLAS, ATEX/IECEx, ISO 18813:2022, and ISO 24408:2005, establishing a certification-driven barrier to entry. With 6 employees and no disclosed external funding, AquaSpec operates as a lean, independently owned specialist manufacturer with global reach.
AquaSpec Limited firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- AquaSpec Limited
- Legal name
- Aquaspec Limited
- Website
- https://aquaspec.com
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 1995
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 1–10 employees
- Short description
- AquaSpec Limited is a UK-based manufacturer founded in 1995 that designs and sells SOLAS-certified LED marine safety lights — including lifejacket, lifebuoy, liferaft, and signal lights — to commercial shipping fleets, military/defense, offshore operators, and leisure boaters globally.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
AquaSpec Limited industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Marine Safety Lighting
- NAICS
- Commercial, Industrial, and Institutional Electric Lighting Fixture Manufacturing (335132)
- SIC
- Electric Lighting & Wiring Equipment (3640)
- akta.pro primary industry
- Marine Lighting & Signaling Systems (Internal/External) (IMAJAJAJ)
- akta.pro secondary industry
- Life-Saving Appliances & Safety Equipment (Davit Systems, Lifeboats, Firefighting) (IMAJAIAG)
Keywords
Where AquaSpec Limited is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Southampton
- HQ country
- United Kingdom
- HQ region
- Europe
Offices1 record
Markets served
AquaSpec Limited business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2B
- Offering type
- Hardware or Manufacturing
- Cost components
- Supply Chain, Operations, Personnel, Marketing or Sales, Technology or R&D
Revenue model
- Product Sales - Wholesale/Batch Orders: Direct product sales of SOLAS marine safety lights (lifejacket lights, lifebuoy lights, liferaft lights, signal lights) to commercial and leisure customers through wholesale batch orders in multiples of fifty units.
- Product Sales - Retail/Distribution: Sales through authorized distributors and online retailers (Amazon UK, Bigship, Nemad, Google Shopping) globally, reaching end customers across commercial shipping, military, and leisure maritime sectors.
Pricing tiers
| Model | Billing | Price |
|---|---|---|
| Unit Pricing | Multi-year contract | Batch order pricing (50+ units) |
Go-to-market motion2 records
Distribution channels5 records
Marketing channels5 records
AquaSpec Limited product offering
Product offeringCore offering
AquaSpec Limited designs and manufactures SOLAS-compliant marine safety lighting products, including lifejacket lights, lifebuoy lights, liferaft lights, and hand-held/rescue signal lights. The company serves commercial shipping fleets, naval/defense forces, offshore operators, search-and-rescue organizations, and leisure boat owners with regulatory-certified (MED, USCG, ATEX/IECEx, IMO SOLAS) illumination devices.
Product overview
AquaSpec Limited manufactures a comprehensive portfolio of SOLAS-approved marine safety lights, including lifejacket lights (AQ40L, AQ40S, AQ8A, AQLNK-AL15), lifebuoy lights (AQLBL, AQLBA, AQLBLTX ATEX), liferaft lights (AQLRL), and signal lights (AQERSL, AQFLA). All products are certified to international maritime safety standards including SOLAS, MED, MER, and USCG. The product range spans from compact flashing LED lights for personal lifejackets to larger signaling devices for vessels, with options for both automatic water activation and manual operation.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Quantifiable outcome
- Over 40 hours continuous operation (5x SOLAS 8-hour minimum)
- +3 more outcomes
Companies that use AquaSpec Limited
Customer profileNamed customers4 records
Segments4 records
Ideal customer profiles4 records
AquaSpec Limited technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed No
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Feature6 records
AquaSpec Limited partnerships and signals
Strategic signalScale indicators5 records
Recent moves6 records
Expansion highlights5 records
AquaSpec Limited competitors and assessment
Company assessmentDirect peers
- Lalizas: Greek marine safety equipment manufacturer producing lifejacket lights, lifebuoy lights and liferaft equipment under SOLAS/MED approvals. Competes directly with AquaSpec across European commercial and leisure marine segments.
- Plastimo: French manufacturer of marine safety equipment including lifejackets, harnesses and safety lighting. Competes with AquaSpec in European leisure and small-commercial markets with overlapping SOLAS-approved products.
- Daniamant: Danish manufacturer specializing in SOLAS-approved lifejacket lights, lifebuoy lights and liferaft lights for commercial and leisure marine markets. Closest head-to-head competitor to AquaSpec with overlapping product range and regulatory certifications.
- Ocean Safety: UK-based specialist in marine safety equipment including lifejacket lights, liferaft and lifebuoy equipment. Overlaps AquaSpec's product categories and serves the same commercial shipping and leisure customer base in the UK and Europe.
- ACR Electronics: US-based manufacturer of marine safety electronics including lifejacket lights, EPIRBs, PLBs and distress signals. Direct overlap on SOLAS-certified personal safety lighting plus broader survival electronics portfolio.
Others
- Hammar Produktion: Swedish manufacturer of hydrostatic release units (HRUs) and life raft safety release systems. Adjacent supplier into the same life raft and SOLAS equipment ecosystem served by AquaSpec.
- Imtra: US distributor and integrator of marine safety and lighting products. Channel partner / distributor role rather than direct manufacturer competitor, but a relevant route-to-market comparable for AquaSpec's own distribution model.
- Spinlock: UK-based marine safety equipment manufacturer focused on lifejackets, deck hardware and personal safety. Adjacent competitor serving overlapping UK leisure and commercial marine customers with safety-adjacent (not lighting-direct) products.
Broad incumbents
- Mustang Survival: North American manufacturer of flotation suits, lifejackets and marine safety equipment including lights. Broader PFD-focused portfolio with overlapping SOLAS/USCG-approved personal lighting products.
- Survitec Group: Global marine safety conglomerate providing liferafts, lifejackets, evacuation systems and survival equipment to commercial shipping, offshore and defense. A much larger incumbent that competes in tenders across AquaSpec's segments.
Market position
Strengths5 records
Weaknesses5 records
Competitive moat5 records
Key risks6 records
Key highlights6 records
Customer concentration
AquaSpec Limited social profiles
Digital presenceAquaSpec Limited compliance and trust
Trust signalCompliance9 records
AquaSpec Limited financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
AquaSpec Limited leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
AquaSpec Limited funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds
Investors
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
AquaSpec Limited M&A and investment
M&A and investmentM&A
Investments
M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Frequently asked questions about AquaSpec Limited
What does AquaSpec Limited do?
AquaSpec Limited designs and manufactures SOLAS-compliant marine safety lighting products, including lifejacket lights, lifebuoy lights, liferaft lights, and hand-held/rescue signal lights. The company serves commercial shipping fleets, naval/defense forces, offshore operators, search-and-rescue organizations, and leisure boat owners with regulatory-certified (MED, USCG, ATEX/IECEx, IMO SOLAS) illumination devices.
Is AquaSpec Limited a public or private company?
AquaSpec Limited is a private company. It is classified as founder individual operated bootstrapped and is currently operating.
When was AquaSpec Limited founded?
AquaSpec Limited was founded in 1995. It employs 1 to 10 people.
Where is AquaSpec Limited based?
AquaSpec Limited is headquartered in Southampton, United Kingdom, in the Europe region.
How does AquaSpec Limited make money?
Two revenue lines are on record. Product Sales - Wholesale/Batch Orders are the primary driver. The others are product Sales - Retail/Distribution.
Who are AquaSpec Limited's main competitors?
Direct peers on record are Lalizas, Plastimo, Daniamant, Ocean Safety and ACR Electronics. Others are Hammar Produktion, Imtra and Spinlock. Broad incumbents are Mustang Survival and Survitec Group.
Does AquaSpec Limited have an API?
No public API is recorded for AquaSpec Limited.
What industry is AquaSpec Limited in?
AquaSpec Limited's product category is Marine Safety Lighting. Its primary akta.pro industry code is IMAJAJAJ, Marine Lighting & Signaling Systems (Internal/External), with a secondary code of IMAJAIAG, Life-Saving Appliances & Safety Equipment (Davit Systems, Lifeboats, Firefighting). Its NAICS code is 335132 and its SIC code is 3640.