Marine Automation Systems &
Offshore Control Solutions
MASK Control Systems designs and delivers automation solutions for marine and offshore operators across the UK and worldwide. Since 2013, we have engineered PLC control systems, control panels, and fully integrated automation solutions built to withstand the harshest environments a marine application can present.
Our team understands the corrosion resistance, the classification requirements, and the reliability standards this sector demands, and we build every project around them.
Why Marine Environments Need Specialized Automation
Marine automation operates under conditions that most industrial environments never face. Constant exposure to saltwater, humidity, and vibration means every piece of electrical equipment must be corrosion-resistant and properly IP-rated from the outset, or it simply will not survive its operating life.
Saltwater, Moisture & Corrosion
Standard industrial enclosures fail rapidly at sea. Continuous salt-fog and humidity require marine-grade 316L stainless steel, submersible glanding, and rigorous IP68/IP69K sealing.
Zero Quick Site Visits at Sea
Vessels and offshore assets operate for extended weeks without port access. Systems must be architected with fault-tolerant redundancy and automated diagnostics because a call-out is not an option.
DNV & IMO Classification Rules
International Maritime Organization (IMO) regulations and classification society standards (including DNV) shape design decisions from the first concept rather than as an afterthought.
Compact Footprints & Vibration
Machinery space is at a premium on vessels. Panels must be purpose-engineered to fit restricted bulkheads while resisting continuous low-frequency hull vibrations and G-shocks.
Strategically situated near Plymouth naval dockyards, Falmouth commercial berths, and South Coast maritime corridors, providing rapid deployment to UK and European waters.
The UK Marine & Offshore
Sector Landscape
The UK maintains a strong marine engineering base, with particular strength along the South Coast Marine Cluster and in coastal regions such as Devon, where MASK is headquartered. This concentration of marine engineering expertise supports everything from commercial shipping and offshore energy to defense and research vessels, giving operators in the region direct access to deep marine-specific technical knowledge.
Marine-certified automation engineers remain difficult to recruit. The specialized knowledge required to design for saltwater exposure, vibration resistance, and classification society compliance is not something every automation engineer has, and many vessel operators struggle to build this expertise in-house.
This is pushing more vessel operators and marine facilities toward experienced outsourced partners like MASK Control Systems who already understand marine-specific design requirements, rather than trying to develop that capability internally.
Signs Your Vessel or Facility Needs Marine Automation Support
Several recurring signals tell us a vessel or marine facility is ready for an automation review before offshore failure forces an emergency dockside stay:
Aging Non-Marine Rated PLCs
Control panels or PLCs currently in service are aging, suffering heat stress, and no longer rated for continuous maritime operating conditions.
Manual Machinery Monitoring
Propulsion, fuel transfer, or auxiliary power systems are monitored manually, with zero real-time visibility into operating health or faults.
Recurring Enclosure Corrosion
Electrical enclosures and terminal boxes are experiencing recurring corrosion-related component failures and intermittent grounding faults.
High-Risk At-Sea Downtime
Unscheduled downtime at sea creates disproportionate operational hazards, salvage expenses, and charter-party penalty exposure.
Classification Compliance Failures
A vessel refit or survey has revealed that legacy control equipment no longer satisfies current DNV or IMO classification rules.
Marine Engineering Skills Shortage
Your internal technical team lacks marine-certified automation specialists experienced in saltwater resilience and shipboard EMC.
Experiencing corrosion or unmonitored propulsion systems?
An automation review is worth prioritizing before an at-sea equipment failure or classification survey sanction.
Our Marine Automation Services
From fail-safe propulsion PLC logic to 316L stainless IP68 control cabinets and bridge telemetry, we engineer end-to-end maritime systems built around corrosion survival, classification compliance, and crew safety.
PLC Programming & Control Systems
We engineer robust control logic for propulsion, auxiliary, and monitoring systems using industry-leading platforms such as Siemens, Mitsubishi, and Unitronics. Our programming is meticulously designed to meet the rigorous reliability standards of marine operations, ensuring your critical systems remain stable, responsive, and fully functional in even the most demanding at-sea conditions.
Electrical Control Panel Design & Build
We specialize in the design and manufacture of IP-rated, corrosion-resistant control panels engineered to endure the harsh realities of shipboard environments. Every enclosure is constructed to withstand continuous saltwater exposure, high humidity, and persistent vibration, ensuring your electrical infrastructure remains protected, compliant, and operational throughout its entire service life.
Systems Integration
We consolidate your vessel's propulsion, power management, and monitoring systems into a single, cohesive control architecture. By ensuring these critical systems work in harmony rather than in isolation, we significantly improve overall operational efficiency, streamline data flow, and simplify the management of complex onboard technologies for your crew.
HMI & SCADA Development
We develop intuitive bridge and control room interfaces tailored to rigorous marine visibility standards. These solutions provide your crew with clear, readable control in all lighting conditions from the intense glare of bright daylight to low-light night operation greatly enhancing safety, reaction times, and situational awareness across the vessel.
Remote Monitoring & Telemetry
Our advanced remote monitoring solutions offer continuous, real-time condition tracking for your propulsion and auxiliary machinery. By providing constant oversight, we enable your team to identify and resolve developing faults early, effectively preventing minor technical issues from escalating into costly or hazardous at-sea downtime.
Installation & Commissioning
We manage end-to-end on-site installation and commissioning for both newbuilds and complex retrofits. Our team is expert at navigating the specific space and access constraints of marine environments, ensuring your systems are deployed correctly, safely, and efficiently without disrupting your ongoing vessel operations.
Specialized Offshore Safety & Telemetry Instrumentation
Beyond vessel machinery, MASK engineers safety-critical refuge shelters and deepwater telemetry systems for offshore oil, gas, and renewable energy assets.
Temporary Refuge (TR) Shelter Systems
Bespoke automation control panels and sensor networks for offshore platform Temporary Refuge (TR) shelters. Engineered to monitor atmospheric integrity, toxic/flammable gas detection, positive pressurization dampers, and automated emergency HVAC isolation in high-hazard marine energy zones.
Marine Telemetry Systems & Rig Test Rigs
Precision electronic instrumentation, high-speed telemetry cabinets, and specialized test rigs for offshore subsea equipment, winch systems, and deepwater hydraulic valves. Engineered to capture mission-critical strain, torque, and pressure data in severe sea states.
Built for Corrosion Resistance
& Classification Compliance
Marine automation is only as good as its ability to survive the environment it operates in, and we design every system with that as a starting requirement rather than an afterthought.
Our enclosures are specified to IP68 and IP69K ratings where required, with 316L stainless steel construction used in applications where saltwater exposure demands it.
We align our designs with DNV standards, and we build in resistance to vibration and electromagnetic interference to suit shipboard conditions. Every system we deliver comes with documentation built to support classification society survey and audit requirements, so your vessel or facility is ready when a compliance review comes around.
DNV & Class Alignment
Engineered to satisfy DNV, Lloyd's Register, and IMO maritime standards, ensuring seamless survey acceptance and classification sign-off.
IP68 & IP69K Sealed
Built with 316L stainless steel, submersible gaskets, and marine glanding to withstand continuous salt spray, high-pressure washdown, and green sea boarding.
Extreme Vibration & Shock
Ruggedized components, DIN-rail vibration dampening, and tension-clamp terminals that never loosen under continuous heavy hull resonance.
Tri-Certified Quality
Holding ISO 9001 (Quality), ISO 17020 (Inspection), and ISO 17025 (Testing/Calibration) certifications for complete manufacturing traceability.
Supporting Marine Manufacturers and Operators Worldwide
We are headquartered in Cullompton, Devon, in the United Kingdom, and we apply the same engineering discipline and marine-specific design standards to projects across three continents.
Whether your vessel or facility operates in UK waters, the North Sea, the Mediterranean, or internationally, you receive the same rigorous process, the same certified quality management systems, and the same commitment to long-term lifecycle support.
Rapid mobilization to South Coast ports, Aberdeen energy docks, and Thames maritime berths for scheduled refits and emergency repairs.
Turnkey marine control panels built to class rules and shipped worldwide, supported by flying squads of marine automation engineers.
Encrypted satellite link integrations allowing remote diagnostic assistance and performance tracking without requiring port visits.
How We Work
We follow a structured process on every marine automation project to guarantee class approval and at-sea reliability:
Consultation & Survey
We assess your vessel or offshore asset, operating duty cycle, classification requirements, and physical machinery space constraints.
Marine System Design
Our engineers develop CAD schematics, power budgets, and functional specifications aligned with DNV rules and environmental ratings.
In-House Build & FAT
We build custom 316L panels and program PLCs in-house, conducting 100% rigorous Factory Acceptance Testing before shipyard dispatch.
Shipboard Commissioning
We install dockside, integrate with propulsion and auxiliary systems, execute sea trials, and train your crew with full documentation.
Lifecycle Support & Telemetry
We provide global spare parts support, satellite telemetry diagnostics, and scheduled refit servicing to ensure zero at-sea failure.
Why Manufacturers & Operators Choose
MASK for Marine Automation
We hold ISO 9001, ISO 17020, and ISO 17025 certifications, and we bring that same quality management discipline to every marine automation project. Our team works across Siemens, Mitsubishi, Unitronics, Allen-Bradley, and Omron platforms, so we recommend the right technology for your vessel or facility rather than defaulting to a single vendor's equipment.
We manage every project end to end, from initial design through build, installation, commissioning, and ongoing support, so you work with one accountable engineering partner rather than coordinating multiple contractors.
As the shortage of marine-certified automation engineers continues to affect the sector, we act as an experienced outsourced team who already understands corrosion resistance, classification compliance, and the reliability standards marine operation demands.
Tri-Certified Quality Assurance
ISO 9001 (Quality), ISO 17020 (Inspection), and ISO 17025 (Calibration) certified engineering rigor ensuring full material traceability for classification surveys.
Multi-Platform Vendor Agility
Certified capability across Siemens SIMATIC, Mitsubishi MELSEC, Unitronics, and Rockwell platforms to match your vessel's existing equipment fleet.
Single Accountable Marine Partner
From initial CAD schematics and in-house panel assembly to dockside commissioning and sea trials, we eliminate contractor friction and delays.
Maritime Sector Specialization
Headquartered on the UK South Coast with direct hands-on experience solving saltwater corrosion, vibration shock, and DNV compliance challenges.
Frequently Asked Questions
Key questions vessel owners, shipyards, and offshore operators ask when evaluating MASK Control Systems:
What standards does MASK design marine automation systems to?
Can you retrofit existing vessels or offshore assets with new control systems?
How do you address corrosion and saltwater exposure in your panel designs?
Do you support remote monitoring for vessels that spend extended periods at sea?
Do you deliver marine automation projects outside the UK?
Explore Other Industries We Serve
In addition to marine and offshore assets, MASK engineers bespoke control and automation systems across diverse industrial sectors:
Get In Touch With Our Marine Automation Engineers
If you are planning a marine automation project, or you need to retrofit an aging control system, our team is ready to help. Explore our other industry sectors or contact us directly to discuss your requirements.