Global Marine Systems

Global Marine Group
TypeSubsidiary
IndustryTelecommunications
Founded1850, became independent business in 1999
HeadquartersChelmsford, England
Key peopleSimon Hibberd (CEO)
ParentKeppel Corporation
Websitewww.globalmarine.group

Global Marine Group (GMG) is a British company specializing in the installation, maintenance and repair of submarine communications cables. The company is a wholly owned subsidiary of the Singaporean conglomerate Keppel Corporation.

Global Marine Group originated from various earlier firms, including the Eastern Telegraph Company, Cable & Wireless (Marine), the General Post Office and BT Marine. Following a series of mergers in the mid 1990s, and the subsequent acquisition of Cable & Wireless (Marine) by Global Crossing in 1999, Global Marine Systems was set up to carry out cable laying and maintenance operations with its own fleet of cable ships and specialised subsea equipment. The company now operates a fleet of seven cable ships.

The CEO of Global Marine Group is Simon Hibberd.

History

It was established in 1999 when Global Crossing purchased British Telecom and Cable & Wireless marine operations and merged them. In 2004, Global Marine Systems was purchased by Bridgehouse Marine and was completely restructured.

In September 2014, GMS was acquired by HC2, and in 2020 by JF Lehman & Partners. Historically, the company has a legacy of over 160 years of cable installation, stemming from the first telegraph cables laid in the 1850s.[citation needed]

Cable Ship Sovereign at anchor in the Solent

Ships are stationed around the world to support both installation of new cables and the maintenance and protection of existing cables. The company is also involved in joint ventures with China Telecom and Huawei.

Since 2002 Global Marine has become increasingly active in the installation of submarine power cables and gained significant market share in the European Offshore Renewables market, in addition to undertaking a number of large power interconnect projects.

The company was responsible for installing the cables connecting the turbines on a host of windfarm projects including Blythe (one of the first trial farms), Horns Rev 1 (the first major commercial windfarm in Denmark), Thornton Bank, Kentish Flats and others. To support this business Global Marine formed a subsidiary in 2011 called Global Marine Energy.

The development of the energy business included the opening of a new office in Middlesbrough and the construction of a specialist vessel, Cable Enterprise. The subsidiary company was sold to Prysmian Group, the world’s largest cable manufacturer at the time of sale, in September 2012.

Global Marine today focuses primarily on supporting the telecoms, oil & gas and deep sea research markets. In March 2025, GMS was purchased by Keppel Corporation.

Ownership history of Global Marine Systems

Cable ships fleet

C.S. Cable Innovator arriving at Ogden Point, Victoria in 2024.

As of 2026, Global Marine Group operates a fleet of seven cable ships that undertake the installation, maintenance and repair of submarine telecommunications cables.

The C.S. Sovereign, C.S. Wave Sentinel, C.S. Cable Retriever, C.S. Cable Innovator and C.S. Atlantic Guardian are used for cable maintenance, while the C.S. Clipper and C.S. Recorder are used to lay submarine cables.

Global Marine has announced the signing of a contract with Colombo Dockyard for the construction of a new cable maintenance ship by the end of 2029.

Global Marine Systems is located in Earth
Victoria
Victoria
Bermuda
Bermuda
Portland
Portland
Subic Bay
Subic Bay
Locations of Global Marine cable depots

To lay, inspect and repair submarine cables, Global Marine Systems also operate a range of submarine vehicles from their vessels, such as the Atlas, ST200 and XT600 remotely operated vehicles (ROV) and Plough M and Hi Plough seabed ploughs.

Global Marine also operate a network of four cable depots around the world - in Portland, United Kingdom; Victoria, Canada; Bermuda and Subic Bay, the Philippines - to support its cable maintenance operations.

References

  1. ↑ Geary, James (13 March 2009). "Who Protects the Internet?". Popular Science. Archived from the original on 25 October 2024. Retrieved 5 August 2026.
  2. 1 2 Keppel Infrastructure Fund leads acquisition of subsea cable solutions provider Global Marine Group The Business Times 10 March 2025
  3. ↑ Bill Glover. "The Evolution of Cable & Wireless". History of the Atlantic Cable & Undersea Communications. Atlantic Cable. Retrieved 5 August 2026.
  4. ↑ Bill Glover. "The Evolution of Cable & Wireless, Part 4". History of the Atlantic Cable & Undersea Communications. Atlantic Cable. Retrieved 5 August 2026.
  5. ↑ Bill Glover. "Cableships Iris (3) and Monarch (5)". History of the Atlantic Cable & Undersea Communications. Atlantic Cable. Retrieved 5 August 2026.
  6. ↑ "Global Marine Group Appoints Simon Hibberd as CEO". Global Marine Group. 8 July 2026. Retrieved 5 August 2026.
  7. 1 2 Global Marine Systems sold Ships Monthly May 2025 page 16
  8. ↑ "HC2 HOLDINGS ANNOUNCES DEFINITIVE AGREEMENT TO SELL GLOBAL MARINE GROUP, EXCLUDING THE HMN JOINT VENTURE, FOR $250 MILLION". 31 January 2020.
  9. ↑ "J.F. LEHMAN & COMPANY ACQUIRES GLOBAL MARINE GROUP". 2 March 2020.
  10. ↑ "Huawei Marine Joint Venture Launched". December 2008. Archived from the original on 2017-11-14. Retrieved 2015-01-12.
  11. ↑ "Telecoms overview". www.globalmarinesystems.com. Archived from the original on 2015-01-12.
  12. ↑ "Oil & Gas Overview". globalmarinesystems.com. Archived from the original on 2015-01-12.
  13. ↑ "Deep Sea Research Overview". globalmarinesystems.com. Archived from the original on 2015-01-12.
  14. ↑ "Equasis Fleet Info – Global Marine Systems Ltd (IMO Company Number 1063315)". Equasis. European Maritime Safety Agency. Retrieved 3 August 2026.
  15. ↑ "Vessels & Trenching Assets". Global Marine. Global Marine Systems. Archived from the original on 3 August 2026. Retrieved 3 August 2026.
  16. 1 2 3 "Subsea Cable Maintenance". Global Marine. Global Marine Group. Archived from the original on 3 August 2026. Retrieved 3 August 2026.
  17. ↑ "Solstad Maritime ASA – Sale of CSV Normand Clipper". Solstad. Solstad Maritime ASA. 12 December 2025. Archived from the original on 3 August 2026. Retrieved 3 August 2026.
  18. ↑ "Subsea Cable Installation". Global Marine. Global Marine Group. Archived from the original on 3 August 2026. Retrieved 3 August 2026.
  19. ↑ "Introducing Our Next-Generation Cable Maintenance Vessel". Global Marine. Global Marine Group. 27 July 2026. Archived from the original on 3 August 2026. Retrieved 3 August 2026.