A U.K. firm has acquired an Acadiana subsea equipment rental and cutting services specialist as part of the company’s growth plans in the U.S.
Aqua-Tech Solutions is now a part of Ashtead Technology, strengthening the latter company’s ROV and mechanical tooling offerings and broadening its survey sensor rental fleet. It also extends the firm’s specialized subsea services capability with the introduction of subsea cutting equipment.
The combined companies will provide clients in the Gulf of Mexico region access to equipment and services from south Louisiana.
Aqua-Tech was founded by Jared Deculus, Scott Haydel, Paige Melancon and Shawn Taylor. Over the years, the company has worked on a range of projects, including building a launch and recovery system for Tesla’s autonomous underwater vehicle, and upgrading the South Florida Water Management District’s manatee protection system using sonar, thermal, visual imagery and other noncontact measures.
Its acquisition is the fourth deal completed by Ashtead Technology since the business was acquired by Buckthorn Partners and APICORP in April 2016. It has facilities in the UK, UAE, Canada, Singapore, and the U.S. The company now comprises 160 employees.
Ashtead Technology chief executive Allan Pirie said in a statement Aqua-Tech enables it to “provide our full equipment and service capability right where our clients require it: at their project mobilization locations at ports across the Gulf of Mexico coast.”
In January, Ashtead Technology announced a partnership with 4Subsea to make its autonomous, retrofittable sensors available to the oil and gas industry via Ashtead.
