Rental fleet investment: Evolving for global energy
28 JULY 2026
Sixteen years ago, Motive Offshore Group started as a local marine equipment specialist in Aberdeenshire.
Today, the Group operates 11 strategic bases across all major energy corridors. This growth is supported by our ongoing efforts in designing and delivering new equipment to expand and strengthen our global rental fleet. Bridging the gap between the Americas, Europe, and Asia-Pacific markets, this foundation of operational success has driven sustained growth, with 34 significant assets added in the last twelve months alone.
By proactively embracing the energy transition early on, Motive developed a hybrid fleet that is now perfectly adapted to serve the entire energy industry.
From design to deck - A closer look at three key additions to the global fleet
Leading the latest equipment rollout is the 60Te Double-drum Traction Winch.
Designed to pull loads continuously while maintaining a constant force and speed, the dual drum offers finer control for high or low-tension. Guiding the product through a set of twin rotating grooved drums generates the necessary friction to apply the load. By mitigating excessive wear and bend fatigue while preventing slippage, the double-drum function increases operational efficiency and helps protect product lifespan.
Built for heavy-duty applications requiring high pulling forces over long distances, such as deep-sea winching, offshore lifting, and industrial product handling, our new Double-drum Traction Winch is already in action. Its first job is supporting landfall operations for four submarine export cables at a Baltic offshore wind farm. Motive is providing a full package for this project, including a storage winch, all associated equipment, and an on-site operational team.
Since I joined Motive in 2023, I’ve watched us take on larger and more complex projects. We are always scaling up our processes, from the tools we use, to building the knowledge and expertise of our team. This allows us to tackle increasingly sophisticated projects with confidence. I really enjoyed working on the Double-drum Traction Winch. It was a complex job, but the way the team handled it and the end result show exactly what we’re capable of. It’s easily my favourite build so far.
- Kieron Smith - Fitting Chargehand @ Motive Offshore Group
90kW and 192kW Hydraulic Power Units
As the equipment we deploy grows larger and more powerful, we’ve expanded our Hydraulic Power Unit (HPU) pool with more high-capacity 90kW and 192kW units. These HPUs provide the reliable power required to drive equipment, while maintaining a compact footprint. Each HPU is housed in a DNV 2.7-1-approved crash frame and can be configured with biodegradable hydraulic fluids, meeting the strictest environmental standards for renewables projects.
15Te Vertical Pivotable Tensioners
To meet the growing demand for our specialised flexlay fleet, Motive has added additional 15Te Vertical Pivotable Tensioners to its portfolio.
Known for their integrated ‘break back’ capability, the design utilises a fixed lower track and a moveable upper track that can be tilted backwards, allowing ease of product installation into the tensioner. Controlled by a bushed sliding cassette and four hydraulic cylinders, these Tensioners provide consistent grip force across flexible pipe, umbilical, and steel pipe diameters from 50mm to 600mm.
There’s a lot of hidden detail that clients might never see, but it’s what makes the difference. The time we invest in precisely measuring and aligning components during assembly is what ensures the equipment delivers peak performance and long-term reliability in the field. When we finish a design-build, seeing all those complex parts come together in the correct order is a proud moment for the fitting team.
- Kieron Smith - Fitting Chargehand @ Motive Offshore Group
Other recent builds for the rental fleet include 35Te Hydraulic Drum Winches and Grillages, 350Te Under-roller Systems, a 200Te Spooling Winch, Control Cabins, Level Winds, and Tensioner Toolboxes.
When you have multiple large-scale builds running simultaneously, the key to success is effective planning. By the time a project reaches the workshop floor, the collaboration between our Engineering, Procurement, Manufacturing, and Project teams ensures that everything is fully prepared and ready to go. Getting the groundwork right is critical to meeting project deadlines and consistently delivering high-quality equipment that our clients can rely on.
- Ryan Leask, Manufacturing Division Manager @ Motive Offshore Group
At Motive, we engineer for longevity. Our rental fleet is built to last, and we back it up with rigorous maintenance and testing, and full-scale refurbishment services that empower our clients to repurpose their own equipment rather than replace. We make it a priority to extend the life of every asset we handle, balancing our commitment to the planet with the high performance our clients expect.
From subsea testing to flexlay equipment, discover the extent and versatility of our rental fleet.