Revolutionizing offshore asset management, OES Group leads the charge in antifouling and cathodic protection systems 

From the UK and beyond, OES Group has been supplying antifouling and cathodic protection solutions to the maritime and offshore sectors for over five years. A one-stop shop for corrosion and marine growth prevention, the company has revolutionized the market as the only provider of ICCP, GACP, MGPS, ICAF, and ultrasonic anti-fouling systems – a feat that earned OES Group first place on the North East’s Fastest 50. Today, with manufacturing facilities in the UK and the Netherlands, as well as another set to launch in the UAE, OES Group is eyeing further expansion as it continues to offer the most innovative, sustainable solutions to protect its clients’ assets. 

To learn more about the company’s current operations and future plans, Energy, Oil & Gas sat down Robert (Rob) Forsyth, Managing Director at OES Group, who starts by discussing the story behind OES’ inception and how a gap in the market paved the way for innovation. 

“We were originally incorporated as a one-man-band with me at the helm, as a consultancy company to consult a North African based galvanic anode foundry to enter the offshore wind market,” Rob begins. “I quickly learned that there was a real need for a one-stop provider of anti-corrosion and anti-fouling solutions to the wider offshore and maritime markets, and, in 2019, Frits Verbruggen, one of my associates from over the years, joined the business as a joint shareholder. Soon after, we allocated a share to our other Director, Adam Jackson, and that’s when the real OES Group was born. We all left our full-time roles to concentrate solely on making OES Group what it is today – a global leader in the manufacture and supply of anti-corrosion and anti-fouling solutions. In five short years, we’ve grown from three members of staff to 60 and from £250,000 annual revenue to an excess of £15 million. 

“We acquired our facilities in the UK and the Netherlands to accommodate this rapid growth,” Rob continues. “We’ve made seven-figure investments into these facilities in order to further establish ourselves as the number one choice for corrosion and anti-fouling systems.” 

In alignment with this significant growth, OES Group has been taking on some major projects within the renewable energy sector. One particularly exciting venture has been in collaboration with Baltic Power to support a suitable corrosion protection plan to safeguard Poland’s first offshore wind farm foundation. 

“For this project, OES have designed, supplied and installed our market-leading ICCP systems,” Rob reveals. “The project utilizes our market-leading Impressed Current Cathodic Protection system to protect the submerged foundations from corrosion. External anodes are installed at two levels on the TP, and, on the MP, we installed a specially designed anode ring due to the high resistivity of the Baltic Sea. This project was fully supplied in a record eight months and we are now preparing for a large offshore campaign where we’ll supply our assets and perform the offshore cable pull-ins, final system install, and commission activity.” 

Another notable project that OES Group is currently working on is the Nakwol offshore wind project: a major wind farm constructed with Korean-produced foundations. “This is a flagship project for South Korea, one that we are very proud to be a part of as it is the first with Korean-produced foundations,” Rob explains. “At present, OES are supplying 64 internal and external ICCP systems, and we’re due to finish early this summer and move straight into the offshore campaign later in the year. This is an area that we’re heavily investing in to remain a part of their offshore wind activities.”

Of course, it goes without saying that these larger, international projects don’t come without their fair share of challenges, and OES Group takes great care in scaling up its operations and processes accordingly to provide the best possible solutions for its customers and their assets. Rob sheds light on the key factors that the Group considers when upscaling its innovative approach. 

“First, we need good local partners when we take on projects far from home. We need a good partner that we can trust, train and collaborate with on the project,” Rob says. “When working closer to home, we supply everything, from materials to manpower and even offshore assets such as crew transfer vessels and ROVs.” 

Looking ahead to the future, OES Group will continue to place considerable emphasis on research and development as it evolves with the changing market and customer demands. Building upon its previous successes, the company is enthusiastic about its expansion plans, set to further solidify its position as a global leader in maritime and offshore asset protection markets. Rob concludes our conversation by sharing his insight into what the Group’s next chapter will hold. 

“Research, development and innovation are constantly on the agenda for us. It is essential to help us stay one step ahead. The offshore industry is evolving every day and, if you stand still, you will be left behind,” Rob affirms. “We have some very exciting R&D projects in the pipeline at the moment. Our most recent research was our Flush Mounted Tensioned Anode for offshore wind monopiles. As the industry is trying to reduce secondary steel, our anodes are running out of attachment areas. This innovative solution allows anode fitting after offshore piling and, unlike other systems, it can be installed by a smaller vessel, which can save owners significant sums on their projects. 

“Going forward, we want to establish OES as the global number one manufacturer for cathodic protection and anti-fouling systems. Offshore wind has been huge for us, and we want to repeat our success in offshore oil and gas and maritime,” he finishes.  

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