China Ocean Engineering Establishes UK Presence

China Ocean Engineering Shanghai Co (COES) has launched its first UK subsidiary with an aim to support the offshore renewables and decommissioning industries.

Dundee-based COES Caledonia (UK) Limited is expected to broaden the company’s international reach and support the offshore renewables and decommissioning sectors in the UK and Europe.

The new office will initially employ up to 15 staff members and, subject to contract success, there are ambitions to expand the team in the future creating both local and international job opportunities, the company said.

“It’s fantastic to officially open the doors to our first UK office, realising our strategic intent to strengthen the COES presence in Scotland,” said the new subsidiary’s Director General, Norman McLennan.

“There’s a significant volume of offshore decommissioning and renewables activity projected over the next decade and we’re looking forward to supporting the offshore sector from our new prime location in Dundee.”

COES announced the plan to establish a project office in Scotland in 2017 during a meeting with the Scottish First Minister, Nicola Sturgeon, when she visited the company’s headquarters in Shanghai as part of a trade mission to China.

The state-owned company, part of the Chinese Ministry of Transport, focuses on providing its know-how in offshore renewables, subsea construction and diving services, diving equipment production, offshore installation of oil and gas facilities, decommissioning, ocean towing, anchor handling and supply, salvage and wreck removal.