OTAQ Group is always very proud to celebrate the achievements of our team, and today we are particularly thrilled to share the news of our very talented Sales Manager, Beth Holmes.

Since joining the OTAQ family in March 2022, Beth has gone from strength to strength, swiftly working her way up from Internal Sales Coordinator to Sales Manager in just 10 months.

This inspiring trajectory is the perfect representation of Beth and her work ethic. From day one, she has been committed to the growth and success of not just the company, but her personal and professional development as well.

That is why, for the past 12 months, Beth has been hard at work completing her Level 4 Sales Executive course. And, although this has been an extensive and demanding programme of study, with many challenging assessments and tasks, Beth has made this grand undertaking look effortless, and as a result, celebrations are in order!

OTAQ Group is delighted to announce that Beth Holmes has passed her Level 4 Sales Executive course with flying colours, and as a result of her dedication, perseverance, and unstoppable drive, she has officially been accepted as a member of The Institute of Sales Professionals.

This prestigious achievement is a badge of honour, not just for Beth, but for all of us at OTAQ, who are privileged every day to share in her enthusiasm, her industriousness, and her passion for the role.

Congratulations, Beth! We all look forward to sharing in many more of your triumphs, and we can’t wait to see what the future brings.

OTAQ Group is proud to announce the addition of Stephen Duncan to our team as the new Project & QA Manager. With over 30 years of extensive experience in the offshore industry, Stephen brings a wealth of knowledge and skills that make him a valuable asset to our organisation.
Stephen Duncan’s career in the offshore industry has been marked by his expertise in detailed product design, project management, and QA management. His unique combination of technical, financial, and business skills has consistently driven success throughout his professional journey.

In his new role at OTAQ, Stephen’s primary objectives and priorities revolve around promoting project excellence and driving company-wide improvements in all aspects of the business. He will serve as a focal point for harnessing his extensive industry experience to enhance the overall quality of OTAQ’s products and services.
Stephen Duncan’s vision for making a substantial impact in his new capacity includes understanding and developing key processes that underpin the delivery of OTAQ products and services. He aims to identify key areas for improvement and ensure that all projects he is involved in not only meet but exceed clients’ expectations.

When asked about his main goal, Stephen emphasised, “Ensuring all projects I’m involved with are successful in exceeding clients’ expectations is my top priority. I’m committed to driving quality and excellence in everything we do at OTAQ.”
Stephen ‘s decision to join OTAQ Group was inspired by the opportunity to be part of a growing and innovative business where he can truly make an impact. His extensive industry experience and dedication to improvement align perfectly with OTAQ’s mission and values.

Stephen Duncan’s appointment as Project & QA Manager signifies a significant step forward for OTAQ Group as we continue to excel in the offshore and aquaculture industries. We look forward to the positive contributions Stephen will make to our team and the value he will bring to our clients.
Please join us in welcoming Stephen Duncan to the OTAQ Group family. We are excited to have him on board as we work together to elevate our projects and quality assurance to new heights.

About OTAQ Group:
OTAQ look forward to continuing to consistently improve our team, our processes and our technologies to provide world-class services to our customers. With a commitment to excellence and a passion for delivering high-quality products and services, we serve a wide range of clients in the marine and subsea sectors and our team is dedicated to pushing the boundaries of what is possible and consistently exceeding client expectations.

As part of its global growth plans, OTAQ, a leading provider of cutting-edge solutions in the fields of oceanography, offshore survey, and aquaculture, has teamed up with Misago, a renowned Japanese company specialising in oceanographic equipment. This strategic partnership aims to represent OTAQ’s products in Japan, leveraging Misago’s extensive experience and expertise in the local market.

Mission – Pioneering New Frontiers

The primary mission behind this collaboration is clear: to develop and expand OTAQ’s presence in Japan’s oceanographic, offshore survey, and aquaculture markets. With a strong commitment to delivering innovative and reliable solutions, OTAQ has set its sights on introducing its state-of-the-art technologies to Japan. This partnership will enable the company to tap into new opportunities and establish a stronghold in this region.

Norio Akiyama, A Key Player with a Rich Legacy

At the heart of this partnership is Norio Akiyama, the President of Misago Co. Ltd. Mr. Akiyama boasts an impressive 30-year career in the oceanographic market and has been diligently working in this field since founding Misago in 2018.

Mr. Akiyama’s journey in the world of oceanography began when he graduated from Tokai University’s School of Oceanography with a Bachelor of Science in March 1988.

His extensive professional journey led him to Sanko Tsusho Co., Ltd. of Tokyo, where he dedicated three decades to the Sales Division. Sanko Tsusho is a respected import and export trading company specialising in meteorology and oceanographic equipment, industry equipment for the defence market, and environmental measurement equipment.

In October 2018, Mr. Akiyama took the reins as President of Misago Co., Ltd. based in Yokohama. Misago is known for its proficiency in importing and exporting oceanographic equipment, making it the ideal partner for OTAQ to navigate the complexities of the Japanese market.

With Norio Akiyama’s expertise and Misago’s local market knowledge, Japan is poised to benefit from the cutting-edge technologies and services that OTAQ has to offer. This partnership will undoubtedly create new opportunities, drive innovation, and contribute to the growth of these vital industries in Japan.

For more information on this exciting partnership and the innovative products that will soon be available in Japan, please reach out to Norio Akiyama:

www.misago.co.jp

+81-45-550-5680

[email protected]

As part of OTAQ’s growth strategy, we are delighted to welcome three new faces to OTAQ to aid in unlocking new market areas and geographic regions for OTAQ’s products and technologies as well as the continued development of operational capabilities, processes, and personnel.

Will Buchan and Philip Pearson will be joining OTAQ UK, and Paulina Oyarzún will be the newest member of OTAQ Chile.

These new experts bring with them a combined total of 45 years of experience in the industry, and we are looking forward to tapping into their expertise in order to continue OTAQ’s growth.

PHILIP

Phil is coming into OTAQ as Group Operations Manager, working across the entire company to coordinate production activities and the continued development of our capabilities and employees. Bringing with him over 25 years of experience in the offshore industry and handling a variety of projects from £20k – £7.5m, Phil is no stranger to handling multiple projects and managing several departments and processes.

WILL

Will’s 14 years of industry experience in international markets sets him up perfectly for his role as Business Development Manager at OTAQ. Will’s focus will be on the further development of global geographic markets for OTAQ’s Offshore energy-related products, including class-leading subsea leak detection technology OceanSense, power-over-Internet ethernet cameras, lights and integration devices for survey and inspection ROVs and sledges, as well as OTAQ’s UK-made underwater connectors and penetrators.

PAULINA

Paulina is joining OTAQ’s Chile team in Puerto Montt to support administration control and sales activities. She brings with her extensive experience in commercial planning, marketing, international affairs, and managing sales channels, making her a valuable new addition who enhances the local capabilities of the team.

Phil Newby, OTAQ’s CEO, is looking forward to welcoming these talented new members to the team:
“Our new members are coming in at an exciting time where we are experiencing a growing demand for our existing products in buoyant market conditions, as well as our exciting new product developments coming close to launching. They all will be joining as part of our business strategy, adding further resources to focus on areas where we recognise there is potential for sizeable growth for our products and technologies.”

OTAQ look forward to continuing to consistently improve our team, our processes and our technologies to provide world-class services to our customers.

We will be in touch with new updates soon!

OTAQ’s AI LPAS technology provides early warning of algae blooms by automatically identifying harmful phytoplankton species.

OTAQ’s Live Plankton Analysis System (LPAS) automatically identifies phytoplankton around marine aquaculture sites that could potentially result in Harmful Algae Blooms (HABs) and negatively impact fish health. We have recently had an article featured in Fish Farmer magazine’s March 2023 issue about our LPAS system, with more information below.

“Early warnings of algae blooms can make all the difference.”

Harmful Algae Blooms (HABs) occur when microscopic algal or phytoplankton populations, amplified by environmental factors such as weather conditions and temperature, grow to such levels that they become harmful to surrounding life. These blooms can be particularly problematic for fish gill health and, with global temperatures rising, are becoming a more prevalent challenge for the global fish farming industry. It is why early warnings of algae blooms can make all the difference.

OTAQ’s Live Plankton Analysis System (LPAS) automatically identifies phytoplankton around marine aquaculture sites that could potentially result in Harmful Algae Blooms (HABs) and negatively impact fish health. By providing critical and timely information, LPAS enables operators to make early and informed decisions on site-specific mitigation strategies and actions.

The LPAS solution consists of four main components:

• AI Engine
• Imaging Hardware
• Analysis and user interface software
• Connectivity and data storage

AI ENGINE

The AI Engine detects specified individual phytoplankton genus with a confidence level greater than 80% and provides the cell concentration of each. Working with industry-based microbiologists and academia, lists of phytoplankton genus of most concern have been identified per region.

“The system is stand-alone, reliable and easy to install and use”

IMAGING HARDWARE

Stand-alone, reliable, and easy to install and use, the imaging hardware enables the operator to quickly capture the digital images of local water samples and pass them to the analysis software. It does this by combining a laboratory-grade microscope with a megapixel digital camera which is linked to the AI engine.

“The LPAS takes into consideration the need to function on both well-connected and remote sites.”

ANALYSIS AND USER INTERFACE SOFTWARE

The analysis and user interface software alerts on the presence of specific species that are a concern in that region. A clear traffic light system lets site operators know if there is an issue, and they can review more detailed data if required. All data is logged and recorded, allowing trends to be tracked.

CONNECTIVITY AND DATA STORAGE

LPAS can be configured to suit the level of internet connectivity and takes into consideration the need to function on both well-connected and remote sites. Images and results data collected by the LPAS are automatically stored locally and in the OTAQ cloud for presentation and analysis.

“It Is anticipated that the system will be a powerful tool for fish farmers.”

The LPAS provides an easy and reliable method to gather immediate and accurate information on potential HAB risks. It is anticipated that the system will be a powerful tool for fish farmers.

CLICK HERE to read the full article, or for further information, please send any enquiries to [email protected].

OTAQ continues to develop their commercial team with the appointment of Mollie Cornthwaite as Internal Sales Coordinator and the promotion of Beth Holmes to Sales Manager.

Mollie joins as part of the expansion of the team’s external and internal sales capabilities which includes the recent promotion of Beth Holmes to a central sales management role. With over 6 years of experience building customer relationships and coordinating activities between organisational departments, Mollie will be a valuable asset within Beth’s new team.

Beth Holmes says: “We are delighted to have Mollie joining the team. She will bring fresh enthusiasm and perspective to the role in our Commercial department and help drive continuous improvement. Her passion for building customer rapport is exactly what we were looking for.”

Mollie also commented: “The industry is all new to me but I’m looking for a challenge. I am excited to start this new challenge within my career and get stuck where I can to help OTAQ continue improving. My goal is to step out of my comfort zone and push myself to produce the best work I can and hopefully progress in my career.”

Mollie will be based at OTAQ’s Lancaster and Ulverston offices and drive continuous development and opportunities. She will also oversee our organisation’s systems, tools, and skills to ensure clear and consistent filing and tracking of multiple quotations and works orders in line with company and ISO9001 processes.

OTAQ, the innovative technology company targeting the aquaculture, geotracking and offshore markets, announces the appointments of Belinda Yaxley as Australia Country Manager and Mike Brawner as its sales representative in the US.

Australia

Belinda’s focus at OTAQ will predominantly be on aquaculture in Australia, New Zealand and the wider Asia Pacific region which is a hotspot for finfish and shrimp farming activity. Belinda will aim to grow awareness of OTAQ’s existing products and launch the new Live Plankton Analysis System, focused on providing farmers with automated and early identification of phytoplankton species that can cause harmful algae blooms, one of the largest industry issues that impact on fish health.

As a dedicated and results driven Environmental Advisor with a proven background in achieving government, industry and company specific environmental objectives; including certification, project management and sustainability reporting, Belinda brings significant industry and regional experience.

Belinda will continue in her role as a director of Nautilus Collaboration where she focuses on working with farms to develop and implement responsible farming practices which support certification and regulatory compliance.

Belinda holds a Bachelor of Science (Hons) and PhD in Zoology from the University of Tasmania and is a consultant and member of the Global Seafood Alliance and the Centre for Responsible Seafood.

America

Mike’s role will be to focus on business development, including new products, sales and marketing with the aim of growing revenues and market share in the US. He will target regional customers and industry bodies with a view to growing OTAQ’s presence particularly within underwater electrical connectors in general and leak detection (OceanSense), cameras, ethernet integration equipment and laser measurement equipment for offshore survey, inspection, repair and maintenance activities.

Mike has held various roles in the underwater systems sector and has strong relationships and industry exposure. Most recently he was VP Sales and Business Development at Underwater Systems Inc., focussing on the Oil and Gas business segments with particular focus on Offshore, Subsea Oceanographic and Aquaculture markets, selling a vast product portfolio of subsea and wet environment connectors and cable assemblies.

Richard Beesley, Chief Commercial Officer at OTAQ, commented: “We are delighted that Belinda and Mike are joining our team. Belinda has significant experience in welfare in aquaculture, particularly defining insensibility for humane slaughter and product quality as well as welfare education on farms and Mike has a proven track record in growing business presence in rapidly expanding market areas.

“We are currently going through a very exciting period of growth at OTAQ, and we are looking forward to working with Belinda and Mike. We are busy building the best team to help us reach our goals, and with their wealth of experience and expertise, we are confident that they will provide an extremely valuable contribution.“

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:

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.

OTAQ Group Expands Customer Facing Team With Appointment of Beth Holmes As Internal Sales Coordinator

OTAQ is proud to announce the hiring of Beth Holmes as their new Internal Sales Coordinator. With over five years of experience in Revenue Analysis & Demand Forecast, she will be a valuable asset to our company with her knowledge and understanding of data-aided decision-making processes and strategy development.

Beth has a proven record of being responsible for performance against budget, analysing data to understand future demand forecasts, historical trends, and competitive set activity, and translating this information into actionable recommendations and strategies to achieve budgeted revenue and company goals.

Richard Beesley, CCO at OTAQ Group, says: “It’s not just her background that makes Beth so perfect for the role of Internal Sales Coordinator.  She will bring a fresh perspective and enthusiasm to expand our Commercial department, which is oriented towards improving customer satisfaction through streamlining order process & tracking all sales within OTAQ group .”

Beth also commented: “I am thrilled to be a part of this team. I look forward to bringing fresh eyes and ideas to help pinpoint areas where we need improvement and creating clear tracking systems and reports for all sales and rentals.”

Beth will be based out of OTAQ’s Ulverston office, and she will lead the Internal Commercial Department’s harmonisation with the other departments for leaner and faster company coordination.

OTAQ, the marine technology products and solutions group for the global aquaculture, offshore energy and the sport and leisure industries, is pleased to announce a new multi-year distribution agreement with Sensor Globe, the Canadian aquaculture technology innovator. This follows completion of a successful development period leading to OTAQ’s first Sensor Globe customer in Chile.

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.  

The OTAQ Connectors Wet-Mate Micro series have been produced to satisfy increasing demands for a reliable, UK manufactured underwater connector with excellent sealing capabilities and robust design. The  NEW Wet-Mate Micro range is available in a range of pin configurations for all harsh environment operations to suit ROV, Diving, and Offshore underwater markets. Manufactured using high quality materials and utilising the knowledge and experience of OTAQ Connectors skilled engineers and technicians, the OTAQ Wet-Mate Micro is a reliable solution for your underwater connector requirements.

The Connectors have been produced from high-grade materials and have been manufactured at our Cumbria facility, in line with our ISO 9001:2015 accreditation via DNV GL.

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,has been announced as one of the biggest winners of the Scottish Edge awards, with a prize of £100,000.  The competition, aimed at identifying and supporting Scotland’s up-and-coming, innovative and entrepreneurial talent invited OTAQ to pitch at the finals of the event in Edinburgh this week where over £1.27million in grants and loans was awarded.

Commercial Director Chris Hyde led the firm’s pitch on their launch product, an innovative new deterrent system called SealFENCE which uses unique underwater acoustic technology to prevent seals from attacking marine fish farming sites.

Seal and sea lion attacks currently cost the fish farming industry over US$1 billion dollars a year worldwide as seals attack marine salmon farms for food, especially in the winter months. OTAQ’s innovative system provide a solution to the growing problem.

From 239 original applicants, just 22 of Scotland’s most promising entrepreneurs were invited to pitch their businesses to an expert panel of judges in order to win up to £100,000 each in grant funding and loans. Just 15 of the start-up and growth stage businesses were successful with only OTAQ and two others awarded the full amount applied for.

Chris Hyde, commercial director, OTAQ, said: “This award is going to make a major difference to our company and will mean that we can accelerate our export plans significantly, introduce our product to more markets and recruit more staff this year.

“Our company vision is to become world leaders in aquaculture technology and specifically in acoustic products such as predator control and monitoring systems.  Our key area of expertise lies within underwater acoustics and sonar and we intend to build a reputation as experts in this field within our industry.

Gordon Merrylees, Scottish EDGE board member and Head of Entrepreneurship at Royal Bank of Scotland and Natwest, commented: “the Scottish EDGE has had a huge impact on Scotland’s economy, with our alumni having generated an additional £31.80m in turnover, secured £28.36m in additional investment, and created 641 jobs since receiving their Scottish EDGE funding and support.”

Sir Tom Hunter, renowned Scottish entrepreneur and philanthropist, said: “100% of the net new jobs in the UK will come from businesses less than five years old – the winners at Scottish Edge are the job creators of today… We need to invest in them and nurture them in any way we can to build our economy and to provide the quality jobs our people deserve. We need to build a far greater pipeline of high growth businesses if Scotland is to succeed, Scottish Edge is one critical element of that pipeline and I commend all the entrants – not winners yet – and the winners for their commitment to building great entrepreneurial businesses.”

Chris Hyde of OTAQ, added: “The entire Scottish Edge experience has been invaluable.  The process and feedback from the judges has really makes us focus on our business and how best to communicate what it does; this has put us in very strong position for achieving our vision.”