General Oceans

General Oceans operates as a holding company in the ocean technology sector, strategically acquiring and uniting specialized firms to foster collaboration and accelerate development. The company was formally established in 2021, emerging from the success of Nortek, an underwater acoustics company founded by Atle Lohrmann in 1991. Lohrmann, the President of General Oceans, has a background in Physical Oceanography and Applied Mathematics from the University of Oslo and has been a key figure in the oceanographic sensor space since 1999. His journey involved building Nortek into a global entity and subsequently founding Hefring Engineering, a subsea vehicle company, reflecting a career dedicated to advancing marine technology.

The group's business model centers on acquiring established, profitable ocean technology companies with growth potential and integrating them into a collaborative framework. This structure allows each brand to maintain its operational autonomy and brand identity while benefiting from group-wide synergies in research, development, and market reach. General Oceans provides centralized support services, including finance, marketing, and strategic guidance from its London headquarters, to help its operating companies scale more efficiently. The company serves a diverse client base across marine exploration, defense, offshore energy, environmental monitoring, and aquaculture. Revenue is generated through the sale of highly specialized products and systems developed by its portfolio companies. The group reported revenues of GBP 62 million in 2023.

Through a series of strategic acquisitions, General Oceans has built a diverse portfolio. This includes Nortek (acoustic sensors for water movement), Tritech International (imaging sonars), Klein Marine Systems (side scan sonar), Reach Robotics (robotic manipulator arms), Strategic Robotic Systems (hybrid underwater vehicles), and RS Aqua (a distributor of ocean technology). These companies provide a comprehensive suite of underwater technologies, from sensors that measure ocean currents and waves to advanced sonar imaging, navigation systems, and robotics for complex inspection and intervention tasks. This integrated approach enables the group to offer comprehensive solutions for a wide range of subsea applications, from scientific research to offshore commercial operations, positioning itself as a key consolidator in a fragmented industry.

Keywords: ocean technology, underwater acoustics, subsea sensors, marine exploration, side scan sonar, acoustic doppler current profilers, DVL, subsea navigation, robotic manipulator arms, hybrid underwater vehicles, marine technology distribution, blue economy, environmental monitoring, offshore energy technology, defense subsea systems, aquaculture technology, Nortek, Tritech, Klein Marine Systems, Reach Robotics, Strategic Robotic Systems, RS Aqua, Atle Lohrmann