Underwater technology company Blue Ocean Monitoring has cited success in a recent seismic testing trial at its joint venture with major petroleum players as a big step towards an IPO next year.
Former London-based Western Australia agent general Mike Deeks has been appointed group managing director of unmanned underwater technologies company Blue Ocean Monitoring.
Perth-based industrial services company Vertech Group has added to a string of acquisitions by purchasing a majority stake in APS, doubling annual turnover to more than $120 million.
A Perth business developing autonomous vehicles for subsea surveying has raised £10 million via a spin-off, while Poynton Stavrianou are advising on a further potential deal.
Woodside Petroleum will invest in Subiaco-based Blue Ocean Monitoring to create autonomous mini-submarines in a bid to make gathering seismic data from the ocean floor cheaper and safer.
A business led by Northern Star Resources chairman Chris Rowe has capitalised on cost cutting by oil and gas companies to position itself among the world's elite commercial operators of underwater drones.