Kongsberg Maritime Acquires Contros Systems & Solutions

Kongsberg Maritime AS, a wholly owned subsidiary of Kongsberg Gruppen ASA, has acquired the remaining 90 percent of the shares of the Germany-based underwater chemical sensors specialist Contros Systems & Solutions GmbH. Contros was established in 2006 and is based in Kiel, close to Hamburg. The company develops, produces and markets underwater sensor systems to detect dissolved gasses such as hydrocarbons, CO2 and oxygen, as well as pH and total alkalinity (TA). Contros has built a strong reputation as a provider of complete systems for offshore early leak detection and environmental monitoring.

At the end of 2013, Kongsberg Maritime and Contros entered a cooperation agreement enabling a smart integration of modular sensor packages into Kongsberg Maritime solutions for subsea monitoring. As part of this agreement, Kongsberg Maritime took a 10-percent shareholding in Contros. In the past 15 months, Kongsberg Maritime solutions integrated with Contros technology have been well received in the global markets.

Following the acquisition, Contros will be part of the Subsea Monitoring business unit of Kongsberg Maritime’s Subsea Division. The focus of the business unit is the development, engineering and realization of modular, scalable and networked subsea monitoring systems for existing and emerging markets, such as environmental monitoring, leak detection, marine research, arctic applications, fish farming and offshore renewables.

Bjørn Jalving, EVP of Kongsberg Maritime’s Subsea Division comments: "Contros has highly competent and motivated people that develop and produce innovative and high performing sensors for measuring dissolved gasses. Contros will continue as a leading provider of underwater sensors for global offshore energy and marine research markets. With Contros, Kongsberg Maritime will strengthen its ability to provide integrated solutions for existing and emerging applications.”

“The cooperation agreement with Kongsberg Maritime has strengthened the collaboration between our companies and fostered the integration of our sensor suites with KONGSBERG's leading edge technology platforms. The acquisition of the remaining 90 percent of the shares is a strategic move forward, securing continued growth and development of Contros’ leading sensor technology,” says Daniel Esser, Managing Director of Contros.