The marine sector in the UK is a diverse and important industry that encompasses a wide range of activities related to the sea and marine environment. The sector includes everything from shipbuilding, marine engineering, and offshore energy to marine science, tourism, and leisure.

One of the key strengths of the UK marine sector is its history and expertise in shipbuilding and maritime engineering. The country has a long tradition of building high-quality ships and other marine vessels, and today, many UK-based companies continue to play a leading role in the global shipbuilding industry. These companies design and build a wide range of vessels, including military ships, commercial vessels and luxury yachts.

The UK is also a major player in the offshore energy sector, with extensive experience in offshore oil and gas exploration and production. More recently, the country has been investing heavily in renewable energy, including offshore wind, wave, and tidal power. This has created new opportunities for companies involved in marine engineering, installation, and maintenance.

In addition to these more traditional industries, the UK marine sector is also home to a thriving ecosystem of companies and organisations involved in marine science, research, and conservation. The country is home to many world-renowned research institutions and universities that focus on marine biology, oceanography, and other areas of marine science. There are also many conservation organisations and initiatives dedicated to protecting marine ecosystems and wildlife.

Overall, the marine sector in the UK is an important and diverse industry that plays a significant role in the country’s economy and culture. With its history of expertise in shipbuilding and offshore energy, as well as its growing focus on marine science and conservation, the UK is well-positioned to continue leading the way in the global marine sector.

Paul Baker, Global Travel Management’s Sales Director explained how GTM is well placed to serve UK-based customers in the industry

For companies in the marine sector, frequent national and international travel is a necessary aspect of conducting business. However, it’s essential to ensure that travel arrangements are made efficiently and cost-effectively. This is where we can help by providing invaluable assistance. 

By handling all aspects of business travel, from booking flights and accommodation to arranging transportation and visas, GTM saves companies in the marine sector valuable time and resources, allowing them to focus on their core business operations. 

And, with access to airlines’ “marine fares”, we’re in a great position to save money every time you need to travel. 

This list includes some of the major players in the UK marine sector, providing a glimpse into the wide range of activities and expertise that make up this important industry.

Please note that this list is not exhaustive and that the marine sector in the UK is constantly evolving, with new companies emerging and existing companies expanding their operations.

  • aae technologies: Based in Norfolk, aae technologies produces a range of acoustic positioning devices. State of the art, accurate, reliable systems that are used across a range of industries, including defence, offshore wind, oil & gas, aquaculture, academia, port & harbour surveys and UXO surveys and clearance.
  • ANB Sensors: Developers of a cost effective, smart, self-calibrating, low maintenance pH sensor for use across all sensing platforms, including ocean monitoring and water resource management, that can be networked for use in the Internet of Things and with operating costs claimed to be 70% less than existing sensors.
  • BAE Systems: BAE Systems is a global defense, security, and aerospace company that has significant operations in the UK. The company is involved in a range of activities related to the marine sector, including naval shipbuilding, maintenance and repair, and maritime cybersecurity.
  • Blueprint Subsea: Provide a range of compact, robust and intuitive underwater acoustic products.
  • Babcock International: Babcock International is a multinational corporation with extensive operations in the UK. The company is involved in a range of activities related to the marine sector, including shipbuilding, maintenance and repair, and offshore engineering. Babcock is also a major provider of nuclear and defense services.
  • C-MAX: Manufactures sidescan sonar systems and accessories, instrumentation winches, and the new Vigo underway profiling winch.
  • Ceep: Connector manufacturer and distributor. Specialists in providing robust interconnect solutions. Ceep products are used in many demanding applications.
  • Chelsea Technologies Ltd: Chelsea Technologies designs and manufactures ingenious environmental monitoring technology to make the world safer, cleaner and smarter.
  • Concept Cables: customised design and manufacture of harsh environment cable for marine, renewables, offshore and terrestrial applications.
  • CR Encapsulation Ltd: Design and manufacture a range of all-metal shell connectors, fibre optic products, strain terminations, penetrators and junction boxes capable for extremely heavy-duty use, trusted in the most rigorous underwater applications from splash zone to full ocean depth.
  • CSignum: CSignum is the only wireless communications provider that enables transmission of data through the water-air boundary, water column, seabed and subsea structures using HydroFi technology.
  • Fibron BX: Design and implement umbilical and cable solutions from the surface to the seabed for the Energy, ROV, Diving, and Seismic industries.
  • Gardline: Over the past half century Gardline has grown from a local Great Yarmouth based company to one of the largest marine survey companies in the world.
  • GeoAcoustics: GeoAcoustics Ltd is a leading provider of high-quality underwater acoustic solutions for customers working in both inland waterway and marine hydrographic surveying, dredging and marine-research fields.
  • Glenair: Glenair is a leading manufacturer of cutting-edge connector technologies including both Mil-Spec qualified as well as commercial circular and rectangular connectors.
  • Hydramec: Hydramec is a long-established offshore engineering, design, manufacturing and
    maintenance company specialising in bespoke marine handling systems.
  • Hydro Group: With over 35 years of experience, Hydro Group specialises in the manufacture of bespoke subsea cable and connector assembly engineering for some of the most demanding industries in the world, with a focus on oil and gas, marine renewable energy and defence industries.
  • Nature Metrics: World-leading providers of nature data and intelligence.
  • Neptune Sonar: Neptune is a leading company in underwater transducer technology, offering one of the world’s largest ranges of undersea defence and commercial transducers.
  • Polygone Systems: PolyGone Systems develops novel technologies for the monitoring, entrapment, and upcycling of microplastic pollutants.
  • Rolls-Royce: Rolls-Royce is a leading manufacturer of power systems and services, with operations in the UK and around the world. The company has significant expertise in marine propulsion systems and is a major player in the marine sector, providing engines, turbines, and other systems for a range of vessels, including commercial ships, naval vessels, and offshore platforms.
  • Scorpion Oceanics: Provides an efficient, competitive and reliable source of cables, connectors, hydrophones, ropes, mechanical terminations and mouldings for use in subsea, harsh environments and nuclear industries.
  • Subsea 7: Subsea 7 is a global engineering and construction company that provides services to the offshore energy sector. The company has significant operations in the UK and is involved in a range of activities related to offshore engineering, including pipeline installation, subsea construction, and inspection, repair and maintenance.
  • TechnipFMC: TechnipFMC is a multinational energy services company that provides services to the oil and gas industry. The company has significant operations in the UK and is involved in a range of activities related to offshore engineering, including subsea construction, offshore platform installation, and pipeline installation.
  • Techworks Marine: TechWorks Marine is a leader in the provision of robust, reliable and secure marine data; experts in real-time marine monitoring data networks; and deliver world-class solutions.