The Stenmar Story

The Underwater Centre, Fort William, Scotland

Stenmar Ltd was formed in February of 1993 to provide Quality Subsea Resources to the Offshore Industry.

Acquisition History
1994 was an eventful year for the company beginning with a management buy-in by three characters important to future developments. Don McGregor became managing director alongside technical director Bob Wilkinson and production manager Andrew Williamson, now Commercial Director. In February Stenmar embarked on a program of growth with an injection of share capital from the executives, the plan being to grow by two distinct paths, "Organic Development" and by "Acquisition".

In March 1994 Stenmar acquired the Irish company Marine Microsystems inheriting the products and patents of RoxAnn®, now a leading seabed classification system. In September of the same year, the board decided another acquisition was practicable and the search began for the next compatible company. Stenmar bought the Underwater Centre in Fort William, the largest commercial diving training establishment in the UK with a world wide reputation. Leeds based underwater welding training company, Hydromech was next on the shopping list complimenting work carried out at The Underwater Centre.

1995 saw yet another acquisition when Stenmar purchased the assets, products, copyrights and intellectual property of Vanguard Marine Ltd, now managed as Seatech International Ltd. which specialises in the development and marketing of high quality marine software. Still further expansion occurred when Stenmar Formed Duckbill Ltd. in Edinburgh to market the Duckbill camera inspection systems to onshore operators including water authorities and sewage plants. Duckbill Ltd. now operates out of Stenmars Head Office in Aberdeen

ROV Training
In 1995 Stenmar Ltd were the first to launch an independent remotely operated vehicle training course in Scotland in response to industry realisation that there were no recognised ROV qualifications available in Scotland.

Overseas
Only last year Stenmar Group expanded its diver training facilities by acquiring two training centres in Tasmania and Fremantle, Australia. These recent additions now enable Stenmar Group to be able to service the globes three principal oceans, Pacific, Atlantic and Indian.

Leisure Diving
Stenmar Groups newest acquisition is the TDI Europe franchise. Technical Diving International is an organisation recognised in most countries of the world. Technical Diving utilises the latest technology in sport diving and TDI courses are available from Stenmars Underwater Centres in Fort William and Tasmania.

Products Division
Stenmars products division designs, produces and sells underwater cameras, pipeline inspection cameras, pipeline sonars, acoustic and seabed mapping systems. These products are sold world-wide by agents and dealers to customers as diverse as the US Corps of Engineers, oil corporations, water distribution companies, fisheries research institutes and fishermen.

New Diving Technology Event
The latest project is The New Diving Technology Event being held at The Underwater Centre in Fort William on the 4-5 September 1997. This International event will commence with the opening of the new diving school building, funded by the European Union and Lochaber Enterprise Ltd. Equipment on show will be amongst the most advanced available today in both commercial and leisure diving sectors. Supported by The Health And Safety Executive and Technical Diving International who will both have a top level presence alongside Stenmar, The Underwater Centre and Dräger, this event provides an excellent opportunity for the company to display its products and services including; including an Atmospheric Diving System, Eyeball ROV, 7 Function Manipulator, Sidescan Sonar and Seabed Mapping System.

Further details from:
Stenmar, The Innovation Centre
Aberdeen Offshore Technology Park
Bridge of Don
Aberdeen
AB23 8GX
Tel: +44 (0) 1224 827288
Fax: +44 (0) 1224 827289