International subsea survey and inspection company Sulmara has opened a new office in Bristol, strengthening its technical leadership and accelerating innovation in subsea data solutions.
The new office is now home to a specialist team, focusing on enterprise data infrastructure, software development and data analytics driven by artificial intelligence and machine learning (AI/ML). They will help transform how offshore survey data is collected, processed, and delivered, and their work will reduce the number of people working offshore, improve survey accuracy, and shorten project timelines.
At the heart of this move is the appointment of Richard Goodwin as Chief Information Officer (CIO). Based in Bristol, Richard will lead Sulmara’s global technical development & operations, driving the integration of AI/ML, cloud, and automation into subsea survey workflows.
Richard brings more than 25 years of experience, including two decades at Capgemini where he held global senior leadership roles across AI/ML, infrastructure, security, and solution architecture. His background spans multiple sectors – including marine and subsea – giving him the expertise to tackle some of the industry’s toughest data and technology challenges.
“This is more than just a new office – it’s a highly experienced team ready to deliver from day one,” said Richard. “With AI and machine learning, we see a huge opportunity to transform underwater exploration – making it safer, faster, and more precise than ever before.”
Kevin McBarron, CEO at Sulmara, added: “We’re really pleased to welcome Richard and the wider team to Sulmara as they settle into our new Bristol office. They bring a high level of technical skill, professionalism, and a collaborative spirit that aligns with how we work as a company.
“Having this team in place adds further depth to the expertise we offer our clients, and we’re genuinely looking forward to working together.”
The Bristol hub will focus on developing tools for tasks such as UXO identification, seafloor target picking, and boulder detection, all critical to reducing project risk and enabling greater adoption of remote technologies.
This expansion reflects Sulmara’s commitment to data-driven innovation and to providing clients with faster, safer, and more efficient subsea services.
