Uncategorised Archives - OTAQ Aquaculture

Gary English Joins as Senior Development Engineer

There’s more exciting news at OTAQ, with the recent appointment of Gary English as Senior Development Engineer adding to a number of new roles OTAQ has recently announced. Aquaculture and Offshore Energy are fast growing market sectors and the OTAQ Group has been expanding to accommodate the growing demand for their services.

OTAQ develops world-class marine technology products and innovation is at the heart of everything they do. In such a fast-paced industry, the continual development of new technology solutions is crucial and OTAQ’s engineering team plays a vital role in this.

Recruiting the right people is key to ensuring consistent progress at OTAQ and Gary English brings extensive experience and engineering expertise to the OTAQ Group. From his early beginnings as an Aircraft Technician to more recent roles in Project Engineer positions, Gary’s qualifications and experience will bring some valuable skills to the existing team. Gary has worked in the Diving and Subsea industry for over 10 years, with over 15 years’ experience in the Aerospace industry.

Gary was delighted to be offered the role of Senior Development Engineer in the Connectors division, where he will be based at the Aberdeen office. He said he is looking forward to being able to get involved in the development of new products and helping to streamline processes to drive efficiencies.

His role will include being the technical authority for all underwater connector and penetrator products as well as providing mechanical engineering support across the OTAQ Group as required.

Harry Rotsch, Chief Technology Officer at OTAQ Group is excited to welcome Gary to the team:

“We were very impressed with Gary’s experience across both the Diving and Subsea industry and the Aerospace industry and his career ambitions are exactly what we are looking for at OTAQ.

We are going through a very exciting period of growth at OTAQ, and we are busy building the best team to help us to achieve all of our goals. We are confident that Gary will bring some useful new ideas and become a very valuable member of the Engineering team.”

Keep a look out for the new innovative products that OTAQ will be launching in the near future, combining the latest technology and the industry-leading talents of the ever-expanding OTAQ team.

OTAQ continues to expand their team with the appointment of Mike Williams into the role of Junior Engineer. Mike has over seven years’ experience as an Electronics Technician for a commercial diving company, and he is very excited to be part of the innovative culture at OTAQ.

He said “I am really grateful to have this opportunity and to get started in this role. I am looking forward to learning from the rest of the team but also bringing my own ideas to help drive product development. The innovative culture at OTAQ really excites me and I am keen to start working on some interesting projects.”

Mike will be working at the Aberdeen office on projects for Aquaculture and Offshore Energy Applications and his experience and interests are a perfect match for his new role. With a HNC in Electrical Engineering, as well as an NC in Mechanical Engineering, Mike also holds PADI and AIDA diving instructor qualifications.

Harry Rotsch, Technical Director at OTAQ Group, shared his delight that Mike is joining the team: “We are really looking forward to seeing the qualities that Mike brings to OTAQ. His background and passion for computer programming are attributes that we feel will add great value to the team.

We are always looking to bring innovative thinkers to OTAQ, and Mike will have an important role to play in developing new products and refining our existing products. One of the factors we really liked about Mike was his commitment to continual self-development and his drive to learn.

As a dynamic and technology-centric company, part of our recruitment strategy is to find candidates who will enable us to continue to evolve and Mike has shown all of the signs that he will be a great addition to the OTAQ team.”

The sustained increase in scale and sophistication of development projects in the Aquaculture and Offshore Energy market sectors continues to drive underwater technology forward. By adding more experience to the engineering team, OTAQ can ensure they continue to deliver world-leading solutions for customers and end users in these sectors.

21 September 2022

OTAQ, the marine technology products and solutions group for the global aquaculture, offshore energy, and tracking industries, announced on 20 September that it had been awarded an initial order for the Company’s tracking device. The Company is pleased to confirm that, having worked closely with Track Tracker Ltd, a specialist railway technology company, that it has received the first order for its newly developed asset tracking device for use in tracking assets in the rail industry.

The contract is for the supply of an initial batch of 40 devices to Track Tracker Ltd who will monitor the location of railway assets in use in busy, hazardous, and often complex on track and trackside locations. The railway network is a highly safety critical environment in which the OTAQ asset tracking devices, when integrated into the Track Tracker system, are designed to report precise locational accuracy ensuring that assets are not placed in vulnerable locations.

The asset tracking devices will be supplied in the first week of October, with further orders expected following successful on-site operations.

The contract demonstrates the innovation and R&D expertise gained through the Company’s acquisition of ROS Technology and the evolution of aligned applications, in this case working closely with Track Tracker Limited. This follows the successful launch of tracking technology products in the sporting events sector earlier in the year.

Product info here

Phil Newby, Chief Executive at OTAQ, commented:

“The UK rail industry is proud of its robust safety culture and safety standards. This advancement in technology will serve to enhance the industry’s already exceptional safety record.

“The potential for the market in UK rail alone is believed to be considerable and the company hopes the technology will be adopted by many of the tier one contractors and joint venture projects. We anticipate that we will continue to develop the tracker technology and its applications to appeal to many further potential markets, where precision location and geo-fencing is critical.”

Enquiries:

OTAQ PLC	Via Walbrook
Alex Hambro, Non-Executive Chairman
Phil Newby, Chief Executive Officer Matt Enright, Chief Financial Officer

Dowgate Capital Ltd (Broker & Adviser)	020 3903 7715
David Poutney/James Serjeant Nicholas Chambers/Russell Cook

Walbrook PR Ltd	Tel: 020 7933 8780 or [email protected]
Tom Cooper/Nick Rome	0797 122 1972 or 07748 325 236

About OTAQ

OTAQ is a highly innovative marine technology company focused on the marine aquaculture, offshore energy, renewables and oceanographic research sectors. It operates in four worldwide locations: Lancaster, Aberdeen and Ulverston in the UK and Puerto Montt in Chile.

OTAQ’s marine technology portfolio includes a market-leading intelligent acoustic deterrent system, Sealfence, designed to protect marine-based aquaculture sites from predation, with multiple systems deployed in Scotland, Chile and Finland.

The Company’s Oceansense leak detection systems have a global reputation as the industry standard solution and have been deployed successfully on hundreds of jobs. OTAQ’s Dragonfish laser measurement system is fast becoming recognised as one of the most accurate underwater precision laser measurement systems available. OTAQ also has significant experience in the design and manufacture of underwater connectors, penetrators and communication systems.

It seeks to develop and continuously improve its products using its specialist mechanical, electronic and software engineers with decades of experience in bringing underwater technology products to market. Concurrently, OTAQ seeks to expand its technology portfolio through acquisitive growth, with the aim of further expanding its aquaculture and offshore product offering.

OTAQ is proud to be fully ISO 9001:2015 accredited through DNV-GL. ISO 9001 is an internationally recognised quality management system and demonstrates OTAQ’s commitment to consistency, continual improvement and customer satisfaction. The certification also demonstrates its ability to consistently deliver products and services to market whilst meeting statutory and regulatory requirements by applying an effective quality management system.

As part of a major commercial expansion strategy, Richard Beesley has been appointed as Chief Commercial Officer, who will join our senior leadership team.

Richard brings with him over 20 years of knowledge and experience of working in senior leadership roles within offshore energy and marine markets, where he focused on engineered protection solutions, for high value equipment operating in harsh environments. He has a proven track record of strategic business development, having produced and managed multi-million-pound business growth opportunities, in new international markets and adjacent market sectors. Calling upon this experience, Richard will be responsible for delivering OTAQ Group’s substantial commercial development plans across its core markets of aquaculture and offshore.

Phil Newby, CEO at OTAQ Group, says: “Richard’s appointment as CCO comes at a key time for our business. We are expanding our presence in the growing global aquaculture and offshore markets by offering unique marine technologies and required an experienced, high performing individual to help drive our plans forward. With Richard’s demonstrated success of global business growth initiatives in offshore markets, he fits nicely into our senior team and we are very pleased to have him onboard.”

Richard will be based out of OTAQ’s Lancaster office and will work closely with the other existing sites in Aberdeen, Ulverston, Carnforth and Chile, to build a market-leading business within target sectors.

OTAQ Group to provide technical expertise and commercial scale-up to US-based Minnowtech

June 1, 2020, Lancaster, UK – OTAQ Group, a marine technology company focused on the marine aquaculture, offshore energy, renewables and oceanographic research sectors, today announced its investment in Minnowtech LLC, an innovative aquaculture technology company that provides an imaging platform to enable shrimp farmers to measure shrimp abundance to optimize feeding. Using Minnowtech’s unique IP and data-based imaging tool, shrimp farmers are able to optimize the health and growth of their crop, enhancing the harvest of market-size shrimp.

OTAQ Group, a multinational marine technology group listed on the London Stock Exchange, has become a leader in several areas of technology for salmon farming with a client list that includes the world’s biggest fish farming companies.

With this new investment in Minnowtech, OTAQ Group aims to broaden its reach into innovative technologies to help farmers grow other species such as shrimp. This investment gives Minnowtech an industrial partner with technical expertise and decades of in-house aquaculture industry experience to help further develop and launch Minnowtech’s emerging technology. OTAQ Group will additionally assist with hardware development using its expertise in underwater acoustics and electronics.

“We are delighted to have made this deal to support Minnowtech and help them commercialize the fantastic technology they have developed,” said Chris Hyde, Chief Commercial Officer of OTAQ Group. “We believe aquaculture is the key to sustainable food production and are very excited to be involved in a technology specifically aimed at the shrimp sector. This investment fits very well within our strategy.”

“Having OTAQ Group involved is great for us and validates the hard work that the team here has put into our technology,” said Suzan Shahrestani, founder and CEO of Minnowtech. “Having access to their product development expertise and market knowledge is going be a great advantage for us. We look forward to working closely with OTAQ in the future.”

OTAQ Group are proud to announce our recent ISO 9001: 2015 quality system certification

ISO 9001 is an internationally recognised quality management system. For the past few months our Chief Operations Officer, Steve Burns, has been leading the team as we worked towards becoming accredited. We have been supported throughout the process by Dave Hutchinson at Qualiteq and we are now delighted to announce we have gained full ISO 9001;2015 certification through DNV-GL.

The ISO 9001;2015 quality system certification demonstrates our commitment to consistency, continual improvement and customer satisfaction. The certification also demonstrates our ability to consistently deliver products and services to market whist meeting statutory and regulatory requirements by applying an effective quality management system at OTAQ.

This is a significant milestone for OTAQ Group as we continue to improve our products and services for our valued customers. We have lots of new and exciting developments in the pipeline which we look forward to announcing in the new year!

We have launched a highly innovatiove new solid state underwater camera that offers full 360 degree view over IP with no moving parts.

Our cutting edge software offers the operator a real-time ‘orbital’ field of view in either a 180° or 360° video image. In many applications, this orbital viewing capability removes the requirement for a mechanical pan & tilt.

For more information please click here

OTAQ have appointed Callum Magee as Business Development Manager for the newly formed OTAQ Offshore Division.

Callum has over 15 years of offshore sector experience having worked with a number of subsea solutions providers and is a specialist in underwater technology for ROVs.

Chris Hyde, Chief Commercial Officer of OTAQ Grouo said “With the existing products that we have to offer combined with some very exciting new products in development it’s a very excitng time for us at OTAQ Group. Callum’s experience in the offshore sector is invaluable and we are very pleased to have him leading the development of OTAQ Offshore.”

Callum can be reached at [email protected] or +44 7807 275186

OTAQ Group, a UK based marine technology group operating around the world in the aquaculture and offshore energy sectors, announced today that it had completed the acquisition of Marinesense Ltd.

Marinesense are world leaders in underwater leak detection and precision laser measurement systems for the offshore energy industry. They are considered specialists in underwater optics, lasers and video systems and have been operating since 2007 from their base in Aberdeen, UK.

Going forward Marinesense will become part of OTAQ Offshore with all their products becoming available directly from OTAQ in Aberdeen or through a network of partners around the world.

Marinesense’s core product is Oceansense which has over the last 12 years become the industry standard in underwater leak cement return detection. The system is used around the world to detect leaks in hydraulic control lines on subsea production structures or to detect dye in cement during well completions. The system is used by many of the world’s biggest offshore and subsea operators including Oceaneering, Subsea 7, Rever, Halliburton, Fugro and Technip FMC

Dr Harry Rotsch, founder and managing director of Marinesense said “We have been considering for some time what the best route for Marinesene to reach its full potential was. It was very important to me that we ended up with new owners who shared both our values and our product vision and I am very happy that we have found that in OTAQ Group.” Harry will continue as Technical Director for the OTAQ Offshore division.

Phil Newby, CEO of OTAQ Group said “The acquisition of Marinesense is a very important milestone in the growth of OTAQ Group and will allow our Offshore division to provide a range of world class underwater technology products with an incredible track record. We are very excited about several new products that are in the pipeline and how the expanded team will enhance our engineering resource across the group.”

OTAQ Offshore will be based from its new facilities within Campus Two of Aberdeen Innovation Park.

OTAQ Group, a UK based marine technology group operating around the world in the aquaculture and offshore energy sectors, announced today that it had completed the acquisition of Marinesense Ltd.

Marinesense are world leaders in underwater leak detection and precision laser measurement systems for the offshore energy industry. They are considered specialists in underwater optics, lasers and video systems and have been operating since 2007 from their base in Aberdeen, UK.

Going forward Marinesense will become part of OTAQ Offshore with all their products becoming available directly from OTAQ in Aberdeen or through a network of partners around the world.

Marinesense’s core product is Oceansense which has over the last 12 years become the industry standard in underwater leak cement return detection. The system is used around the world to detect leaks in hydraulic control lines on subsea production structures or to detect dye in cement during well completions. The system is used by many of the world’s biggest offshore and subsea operators including Oceaneering, Subsea 7, Rever, Halliburton, Fugro and Technip FMC

Dr Harry Rotsch, founder and managing director of Marinesense said “We have been considering for some time what the best route for Marinesene to reach its full potential was. It was very important to me that we ended up with new owners who shared both our values and our product vision and I am very happy that we have found that in OTAQ Group.” Harry will continue as Technical Director for the OTAQ Offshore division.

Phil Newby, CEO of OTAQ Group said “The acquisition of Marinesense is a very important milestone in the growth of OTAQ Group and will allow our Offshore division to provide a range of world class underwater technology products with an incredible track record. We are very excited about several new products that are in the pipeline and how the expanded team will enhance our engineering resource across the group.”

OTAQ Offshore will be based from its new facilities within Campus Two of Aberdeen Innovation Park.