BMT Group

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BMT Group Ltd (previously British Maritime Technology), established in 1985, is an international multidisciplinary engineering, science and technology consultancy offering services particularly in the defence, security, critical infrastructure, commercial shipping, and environment sectors. The company's heritage dates to World War II.^[1] BMT's head office is at the Zig Zag Building, 70 Victoria Street Westminster, London, United Kingdom.

BMT specialises in maritime engineering design, design support, risk and contract management and provides services focused by geography, technology and/or market sector. It employs around 1,300 professionals operating from 27 offices across four continents, with primary bases in Australia, Europe, North America and Asia-Pacific.^[2]

In August 2017, Sarah Kenny OBE was appointed as Chief Executive.^[3] A marine environmental scientist by background, Sarah has worked in maritime science and technology businesses throughout her career.

Sarah recently completed her tenure as Chair of Chair of Maritime UK.^[4] to which role she was appointed in 2021. She is also a board member of Maritime London, a Trustee Director of the National Oceanography Centre, a member of the UK Defence Innovation Advisory Panel, and of the National Shipbuilding Office SEG group.

Sarah is also an Honorary Captain of the Royal Navy, an Honorary member of the Royal Corps of Naval Constructors, and a Younger Brother of Trinity House. She was awarded an OBE in the 2019 Queen's Birthday Honours list, for services to the Maritime Industry and Diversity.

BMT's annual turnover for the year 2023 was approx. £184.7m.^[5]

Originally formed from the merger and privatisation of the UK's British Shipbuilders Research Association (BSRA) and the National Maritime Institute (NMI), it enjoyed tax-free status as a scientific research association for more than a decade.

BMT's heritage includes the water tanks where the famous Bouncing Bomb, used in the Dambusters Raid, was developed during World War II, as well as more recent advances in computer-aided design and aerodynamics.

BMT has also helped to assess the damage caused by major maritime disasters, from the Piper Alpha platform and the Herald of Free Enterprise in 1987, to the Sea Empress oil spill and the effects of Hurricane Katrina.

BMT has also conducted airflow wind tunnel testing of major landmarks and tall buildings, including the Bird's Nest Olympic Stadium in Beijing, the Stonecutters Bridge in Hong Kong; and the 21st Century Tower and Burj al-Arab in Dubai, although it no longer operates wind tunnels.

BMT Group Ltd is a company limited by guarantee with its assets held in an Employee Benefit Trust. The remit of the EBT is to ensure the long-term sustainability of the group with the employees as beneficiaries. The EBT trustees are chaired by Sue Mackenzie and include other non-executive directors from the board of BMT and a wholly independent external trustee.^[6]

BMT gained prominence in 2003 when the Secretary of State for Defence revealed the crucial design role of BMT Defence Services in the Future Aircraft Carriers programme.^[7] The company provided much of the design expertise within the Thales CVF Team, whose design was taken forward into the alliance with BAE Systems to create what is now the Royal Navy's Queen Elizabeth-class aircraft carrier.^[8]

Tide Class is a fleet of four tankers built to enhance the Royal Navy's maritime capabilities. The first vessel in the class was commissioned into the Royal Fleet Auxiliary (RFA) service in 2016. The next-generation tankers are part of the Military Afloat Reach and Sustainability (MARS) project and were designed to replace the RFA's ageing fleet of single-hulled tankers.

The vessels are designed by BMT, in cooperation with BMT Reliability Consultants and BMT Isis, and are based on the AEGIR tanker. The Tide Class vessels are intended to provide logistics support and services such as transportation of fuel, fresh water, food, and weaponry to the Royal Navy's warships and vessels deployed around the world.

In addition to maintaining the Royal Navy's bulk fuel replenishment at sea capabilities, the tankers can also conduct constabulary and humanitarian aid missions, as well as provide assistance to NATO and coalition allied forces.

Aurora EDP is a partnership between QinetiQ, AtkinsRéalis and BMT and is the UK Ministry of Defence's primary route for procuring engineering services to ensure that necessary systems and equipment, including maintenance and spares, are available when and where they are required to meet Royal Navy and Royal Fleet Auxiliary operational demand. The partnership thus contributes to platform availability, capability and safety, supporting DE&S Ships Domain through the Master Record Data Centre (MRDC), the Ministry of Defence's core facility for ship information configuration services for the Royal Navy and Royal Fleet Auxiliary Surface Ship Fleet.

Fleet Solid Support Ships are the UK Royal Fleet Auxiliary's modern solid stores replenishment ships- an essential supporting element to the delivery of the Maritime Carrier Strike Group. Fleet Solid Support (FSS) will provide support ships designed to deliver munitions, supplies and provisions to the Royal Navy while at sea. They will provide logistical and operational support, including counter-piracy and counter-terrorism missions and will collaborate with allies on operations.

In January 2023, DE&S awarded a contract worth £1.6 billion to Team Resolute, composed of Harland & Wolff, BMT and Navantia UK, to deliver three Fleet Solid Support ships to the RFA.

The construction of the ships, being built to BMT's design, will take place in both the UK and Spain. Each ship will have a core RFA crew of 101, with accommodation provided for an additional 80 personnel operating helicopters, boats, or performing other roles when required.

The ships are designed with an emphasis on minimising carbon emissions, equipped with energy-efficient technologies to decrease power consumption and are adaptable to reduce their carbon footprint by using low-carbon, non-fossil fuels, and future sustainable energy sources. They are also designed to be adaptable from the outset to achieve a Carbon Zero status by the end of their 30-year operational lifespan.

The production of the first FSS ship is expected to begin in 2025 across three shipyards and all three ships will enter service after final equipment fits and military trials, by 2032.

Team Victoria-Class is a partnership involving Babcock Canada, Seaspan Victoria Shipyards, and BMT, providing submarine maintenance and sustainment for the Royal Canadian Navy. Operating under the Victoria In-Service Support Contract (VISSC) since 2008, the team manages the upkeep of the Victoria-Class submarines, focusing on project management, engineering, and supply chain development. The submarines perform strategic military roles, such as coastal surveillance and joint coalition missions. The initiative also supports Canadian industry, Indigenous relations, and academic institutions.

BMT was awarded the Engineering, Logistics, and Management Support (ELMS) contract by the Royal Canadian Navy. The contract involves providing services for the Arctic and Offshore Patrol Ships (AOPS) and Joint Support Ships (JSS), focusing on engineering expertise, in-service support, and supply chain management. The ELMS initiative aims to enhance the operational readiness and sustainment of the Navy's vessels, ensuring long-term efficiency in fleet management.

BMT REMBRANDT is a simulation and training tool developed by BMT for maritime pilot training, incident reconstruction, and risk assessment. It offers high-fidelity simulations of vessel operations, with a focus on navigation and manoeuvring in various environments. The system is used for training mariners, analysing real-world incidents, and assessing operational risks. It supports dynamic modelling of ships and environmental factors, providing a realistic training experience. BMT REMBRANDT is widely employed in the maritime industry for its versatility in enhancing safety and operational efficiency.

ROC Dock Project

The ROC Dock Project is a UK maritime innovation initiative involving BMT, which integrates high-fidelity simulation with real-world operations. The project uses BMT's synthetic REMBRANDT environment to enhance maritime training, design, and testing, providing a virtual platform for evaluating vessel behaviour and port operations. By combining digital simulations with physical trials, ROC Dock aims to drive advancements in maritime safety, operational efficiency, and technology development across the UK's maritime sector.

BMT MOD Tug Training Contract

BMT secured a contract with the UK Ministry of Defence (MOD) to provide tug training for Queen Elizabeth-class aircraft carriers. The program utilises BMT REMBRANDT to deliver realistic training scenarios for tug crews managing large vessels. The training focuses on enhancing safety and operational efficiency when manoeuvring the aircraft carriers in confined spaces. The contract emphasises BMT's expertise in simulation-based maritime training, supporting the MOD's requirements for advanced, high-fidelity training solutions.

Networked Simulators for Pilot and Tug Master Training

BMT has integrated networked simulators, including BMT REMBRANDT, to facilitate joint training for marine pilots and tug masters. This approach enables realistic, scenario-based training in which participants can practise complex manoeuvres and coordinated operations. The use of networked simulation enhances safety by allowing pilots and tug operators to train together, simulating the dynamics of real-life ship handling in various conditions. This system is designed to improve operational readiness and collaboration in challenging maritime environments.

Voyage Optimisation Technology

BMT has developed digital voyage optimisation solutions aimed at improving fuel efficiency, emissions reduction, and operational costs for the maritime industry. These tools utilise real-time data and predictive analytics to assist in route planning and decision-making, ensuring safer and more efficient navigation. The technology supports compliance with environmental regulations by optimising voyages to reduce fuel consumption and greenhouse gas emissions.

South Devon College Marine Training Initiative

South Devon College, in collaboration with BMT, launched a marine training initiative integrating advanced technology for maritime education. The program features simulators and other digital tools to train students in navigation, vessel operations, and marine engineering. The collaboration aims to equip the next generation of maritime professionals with industry-relevant skills and support local maritime development.

DNV Approval for BMT Simulators

BMT's simulator suite and associated software, including BMT REMBRANDT, received approval from DNV, an international classification society. The recognition certifies the simulators for use in maritime training and operational assessments. The suite offers high-fidelity simulations for ship handling, navigation, and incident reconstruction, meeting industry standards for training and competency evaluation.

The BMT SPARO is an innovative payload delivery system developed by BMT for drones, specifically designed for challenging front-line logistics and various other demanding environments. It replaces traditional drone-mounted winches with a novel approach that allows the payload to autonomously descend on a controlled line while the drone maintains a stable hover at a higher altitude.

The BMT SPARO system includes an internally powered cable drum and integrated rotors for horizontal manoeuvrability, providing precise control over the payload's positioning and delivery. This design improves safety and operational versatility by reducing the noise and complexity typically associated with traditional winch systems. It enables drones to perform precise deliveries in situations where direct landing is not feasible, such as hostile environments, disaster relief zones, or ship-to-shore transfers.

While initially developed for defence logistics, the BMT SPARO has potential applications in other sectors, including emergency response, humanitarian aid, and commercial delivery services, where reliable, accurate, and autonomous payload delivery is required. The system's design supports operations in diverse conditions, offering a new solution for aerial logistics.

BMT is an established designer of Crew Transfer Vessels for the offshore wind power sector, with vessels deployed in the North American,^[9] Japanese^[10] and Taiwanese^[11] markets. In February 2024 it unveiled its first Service Operation Vessel (SOV) design, capable of being powered by methanol (potentially the efuel variant).^[12]

BMT is involved earth observation for maritime markets, having been selected in February 2021 by the European Space Agency as part of the development team to assess the feasibility of applying space-based data to support the decommissioning of offshore energy assets, including oil and gas platforms and offshore wind farms.^[13]

BMT provided an Integrated Marine Monitoring System (IMMS) for the Stampede Tension Leg Platform (TLP) located in the U.S. Gulf of Mexico. The system is designed to monitor the platform's structural integrity, environmental conditions, and riser tension, enhancing safety and operational efficiency. The IMMS supplies real-time data to support platform management and decision-making in harsh offshore conditions, reflecting BMT's expertise in advanced monitoring solutions for the offshore energy sector.

BMT and Sonardyne are collaborating to advance subsea monitoring technology with a focus on improving the accuracy and reliability of underwater asset monitoring. Their joint efforts aim to deliver a significant step-change in data quality for offshore applications, which will aid in enhancing safety, reducing operational risks, and optimising maintenance strategies. The partnership integrates BMT's expertise in monitoring solutions with Sonardyne's advanced subsea technologies to provide comprehensive monitoring systems for offshore platforms and other underwater assets.

BMT has been contracted by BP to provide marine monitoring services for its Gulf of Mexico operations. The scope of the project includes monitoring the environmental conditions, structural health of offshore assets, and key safety indicators. BMT's systems will deliver real-time insights that help ensure operational safety and support compliance with environmental regulations. The contract represents BMT's continued partnership with BP in enhancing the safety and sustainability of offshore oil and gas activities.

BMT has been awarded a contract to provide monitoring systems for the Mad Dog Phase 2 Floating Production System (FPS) in the Gulf of Mexico. The project involves implementing systems to track structural integrity, environmental conditions, and safety performance. These monitoring capabilities aim to improve the safety and efficiency of offshore operations by offering real-time data to inform maintenance and operational decisions. This initiative highlights BMT's commitment to supporting high-risk offshore projects with advanced monitoring technologies.

The StratCat35 is a crew transfer vessel (CTV) developed by BMT, in collaboration with Strategic Marine, for the offshore wind industry. The vessel was unveiled at WindEnergy Hamburg and is designed to meet diverse operator requirements, with a focus on sustainability in offshore wind operations.

The StratCat35 is part of Strategic Marine's range of CTVs and measures 35 metres in length. It features an expansive deck area to improve storage capacity and operational versatility. The vessel is equipped with BMT's Z-Bow hull form, which is engineered to enhance seakeeping capabilities, vessel speed, and overall performance in challenging offshore conditions.

The StratCat35 incorporates a hybrid propulsion system aimed at reducing greenhouse gas emissions and increasing fuel efficiency. The vessel is also configured to be methanol-ready, allowing for future adaptation to alternative fuel technologies without the need for significant retrofits. The vessel includes BMT's latest active fender system, designed to facilitate safer and more efficient technician transfers in rough sea conditions. It can accommodate up to 36 passengers and 10 crew members, with facilities designed to maximise comfort during transit.

The development of the StratCat35 is part of BMT and Strategic Marine's ongoing collaboration to advance CTV technology within the offshore wind sector. The vessel's design reflects a combination of sustainability considerations and operational efficiency.

BMT, in collaboration with Penguin Shipyard International, is developing a new 38-metre fire and rescue vessel for the Singapore Civil Defence Force (SCDF). The project expands on previous vessels, the Heavy Rescue Vessel (Red Manta) and Marine Rescue Vessel (Red Dolphin), delivered in 2019. The new vessels will enhance SCDF's rapid response capabilities with advanced firefighting and rescue equipment, high-speed capabilities, and a design focused on manoeuvrability and safety. The vessels are expected to be operational by 2025.

BMT, in collaboration with Greenline Marine, unveiled the Greenline 150 Passenger Electric Ferry at the Canadian Ferry Association 2024 Conference. The 32-metre vessel, designed to accommodate 150 passengers, focuses on energy efficiency and environmental sustainability. It features an optimised hull form and electric propulsion system aimed at minimising energy consumption and emissions. The design meets international environmental standards and includes safety measures for battery systems. The ferry aims to enhance passenger comfort with a quieter, smoother ride.

• BMT website