Woocheen strengthens geosciences’ subsea offering through acquisition of UK engineering firm

DME Systems, a subsea engineering firm based in Newcastle upon Tyne in the UK, has merged with U.S.-based deepwater geosciences firm, Woocheen, broadening the latter’s expertise and capabilities. 

DME focuses on the telecommunications and offshore wind sectors by building and modifying subsea vehicles and control systems, including those used for laying cables on the seafloor. The firm specializes in automation, artificial intelligence (AI), and machine learning.

“DME is a company of engineers with a history of solving tough subsea problems,” said Woocheen CEO, Terry Downes.

“Their world-class expertise, coupled with our geotechnical and geophysical abilities, will give us the in-house capacity to develop unique equipment that is customized for our clients’ needs offshore, nearshore and onshore. It also means we can respond even more quickly and safely when problems inevitably arise while conducting investigations 2,000 meters under water.”

DME Director Darren Coombe noted that the alliance will allow the company to introduce advanced subsea tools to the geosciences field and support its growth. Established in 2021, the company expanded to a team of 25 and relocated three times to meet its space requirements.

“We’re looking forward to fostering ocean and climate health as part of Woocheen, while continuing to serve other customers in the telecommunications and offshore renewables sectors,” Coombe added. “We’re applying our expertise in a new arena. This is an exciting additional playing field for us.”

Woocheen’s geosciences business provides offshore, nearshore, and onshore geotechnical and geophysical services, focusing on analyzing geology in challenging environments, such as offshore wind energy sites and areas of climate-related research. Woocheen’s Seas Geosciences collaborated with DME on an automated geotechnical machine for sampling and testing seafloor soils.

“At Woocheen, we’re using science and engineering to enable people to make good decisions and be the best they can be,” Downes noted. “We choose to work with businesses that genuinely care about people. DME is one of those.”

In June 2023, Seas Geosciences, a subsidiary of Sealaska’s Woocheen, secured a contract from Renexia to support the development of a floating wind project in Sicily. Renexia tasked Seas Geosciences with identifying the most environmentally sustainable mooring and anchoring solutions for the project. 

The company’s remotely operated systems were used to investigate the seabed and underwater environment at the proposed site so that the project aligns with environmental sustainability goals.