Chouest Group expands global subsea services with ROVOP acquisition

(WO) — ROVOP, a global supplier of ROV services to the energy sector, has announced that it has been acquired by Chouest. The deal will bring greater resources and subsea expertise to the Aberdeen headquartered business.

ROVOP is one of the world’s largest providers of ROV services, delivering high performing assets and personnel to deliver exceptional subsea operations to the oil & gas, offshore wind, and utilities industries. The company has maintained a focus on developing its onshore and offshore teams with highly specialized expertise which has contributed to considerable growth in recent years.

ROVOP will now benefit from the support and capabilities of other Chouest companies worldwide, including its vessel-based operations, Caltex Oil Tools, Bram Offshore, and C-Innovation, allowing it to offer a greater range of services and drive new global growth opportunities.

“This is a remarkable opportunity for growth, innovation and delivery of even greater value to our clients, bringing a significantly increased fleet of ROVs and an expanded knowledge that our customers will be able to tap into. “Our specialist teams have helped drive our recent growth and we now look forward to integrating with the Chouest family and leveraging their global resources to enhance our capabilities and expand our reach,” said Neil Potter, CEO of ROVOP.

ROVOP was previously backed by specialist energy private equity firm Bluewater before the Chouest acquisition.

Neil Potter added: “I would like to thank Bluewater for its support over the past seven years, and we’re now looking forward to this next chapter in the ROVOP story.”

The acquisition marks a significant step in Chouest’s expansion and demonstrates its commitment to enhancing its technological capabilities and service offerings across the world. Chouest is eager to embark on this journey with ROVOP, reinforcing its position as a leader in the subsea services industry.

The acquisition means that Chouest, alongside its existing subsea service company, C-Innovation, will now own and operate a fleet of over 100 ROVs and six autonomous underwater vehicles (AUVs).

“ROVOP has established a reputation for excellence in the ROV industry. This acquisition is a key part of our strategy to enhance our integrated subsea services. We are excited to welcome ROVOP’s talented team into our family. Their expertise and capabilities are crucial as we expand our portfolio and continue to offer industry-leading solutions to our clients.” said Dino Chouest of the Chouest family of companies.

The integration of ROVOP into Chouest’s operations will begin immediately, with full integration expected to enhance service delivery and operational efficiency across all organizations in the group.