Marine Automation Systems
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. Standard industrial enclosures are not built for this environment, and a system that fails at sea cannot be fixed with a quick site visit the way a shore-based facility can.
Vessels and offshore assets often operate for extended periods without access to a port, which means reliability cannot depend on rapid intervention when something goes wrong. International Maritime Organization (IMO) regulations and classification society requirements, including those set by DNV, shape design decisions from the earliest planning stage rather than being applied as an afterthought. Space is also at a premium on most vessels, so panels and enclosures need to be compact and purpose-built rather than adapted from standard industrial equipment. We design every marine system with these constraints built in from day one.
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, and it gives manufacturers in the region direct access to a deep pool of marine-specific technical knowledge.
That said, 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 operators struggle to build this expertise in-house. This is pushing more vessel operators and marine facilities toward experienced outsourced partners 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:
Control panels or PLCs currently in service are aging and no longer rated for continued marine exposure
Propulsion, fuel, or auxiliary systems are monitored manually, with no real-time visibility into performance or faults
Electrical enclosures are experiencing recurring corrosion-related failures
Downtime at sea is creating disproportionate operational and safety risk compared to a shore-based facility
A retrofit project has revealed that existing systems no longer meet current classification requirements
If any of these apply to your vessel or facility, an automation review is worth prioritizing before a failure forces the issue.
Our Marine Automation Services
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.
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.
Remote Monitoring
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.
Built for Corrosion Resistance and 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.
We also design around GMP requirements, ensuring that any change made to a system, whether during initial commissioning or years later during an upgrade, preserves the facility’s validated state rather than putting it at risk. For batch release and fill-finish processes, we build in the precise, repeatable sequencing these processes demand, so your production consistency supports rather than complicates your quality assurance work.
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 or internationally, you receive the same rigorous process, the same certified quality management systems, and the same commitment to long-term support.
How We Work
We follow a structured, documented process on every aerospace and defence project.
Consultation
We review your current line, your pain points, and your production goals.
Design
Our engineers develop control system schematics and specifications tailored to your product and your compliance requirements.
Build & Testing
We manufacture panels and build control logic in-house, testing thoroughly before it reaches your site.
Commissioning
We install on-site, run dry and wet trials, and train your operators before handover.
Ongoing Support & Optimisation
We provide ongoing servicing, remote monitoring, and 24/7 breakdown response to keep your line running.
Why Manufacturers 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.
Frequently Asked Questions
We align our marine automation designs with DNV standards and IMO regulations, and we build in the IP ratings, corrosion resistance, and vibration tolerance that shipboard conditions require.
Yes. We regularly retrofit aging control systems on existing vessels and offshore facilities, working within the space and access constraints those projects typically involve.
We specify IP68 and IP69K rated enclosures where required, and we use 316L stainless steel construction in applications where continuous saltwater exposure demands it.
Yes. Our remote monitoring solutions provide condition monitoring for propulsion and auxiliary systems, helping crews catch developing issues before they become at-sea failures.
Yes. We deliver projects across three continents, applying the same engineering standards and documentation discipline wherever the vessel or facility is based.
Get in Touch
Start Your Marine Automation project with Confidence
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.
sales@maskcontrols.com
+44 7412 999343