RS AQUA
We are ocean scientists and marine industry professionals. We are curious, ambitious, collaborative by nature, and always here for our customers. Based in Portsmouth, England, we have operated in the UK and globally for over 40 years.
As part of the General Oceans group, RS Aqua has a shared commitment to growth, innovation and class-leading technology. Paving the way for an exciting future, we are focused on sustainable discovery, exploration and advancement of the ocean enterprise.
Our History
1982: First steps
In 1982, whilst most people’s imaginations were drifting off towards distant galaxies on the cinema screens, two ocean enthusiasts believed the real mysteries were much closer to home. That vision led to the creation of ‘Wardle & Scrivens Ocean Systems Ltd.’, a company that supplied oceanographic instruments that enabled scientific research and laid the groundwork for decades of advancement.
1999: In with the new
Under the new name ‘RS Aqua’, we began selling the first iteration of the legendary WaveRadar Rex. Later down the line, the wave measurement device that helped keep ships, ports, and moorings safe for over 20 years was replaced by WaveRadar Rex2 – a smaller, lighter, and more power-efficient sensor. To this day, it remains just as reliable and trusted by marine professionals around the world.
2016: Sound it out
RS Aqua entered the passive acoustic monitoring market with the five-channel Orca recorder. Hot on its heels, the compact, single-channel Porpoise would follow in 2018. Project Marlin is our latest breakthrough in underwater sound technology. Powered by AI, Marlin will enable automatic, real-time identification of marine species such as whales and harbour porpoises, as well as vessel activity in the area.
2019: Room with a view
Relocating to Port Solent enabled us to establish a dedicated R&D workshop separate from our main offices. This move gave us the opportunity to develop new products across more sectors than ever before. ARC (Acoustic Release Canister), for example, is a piece of telemetry equipment that has provided marine scientists with a way to conduct studies more easily, safely, and with greater environmental responsibility.
2021: Feeling fresh
With an expanding product portfolio that now included underwater ROVs and AUVs, wave buoys, directional hydrophones and more, we knew we needed a stronger digital presence. In 2021 a new, simpler website was unveiled, alongside a refreshed look for the brand – with colours inspired by our coastal environment in Port Solent, and cleaner graphics which help to highlight our wide-spanning markets, whilst remaining distinctly RS Aqua.
2024: All systems GO
In the next chapter of our journey towards understanding our blue planet, RS Aqua was acquired by the General Oceans group – pairing us with new partner companies from across the globe, along with exciting opportunities for collaboration. Together, we are setting sail for a new era of exploration and innovation.
Meet the team
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Martin Stemp
Managing Director
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Terry Edwards
Technical Director
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Dr Ryan Mowat
Director of Innovation
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Kevin Kinghorn
Director of Commercial Operations
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Phoebe Chadwick
Senior Ocean Scientist – Fisheries and Acoustics
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Max Fedoroff
Ocean Science Technology Graduate
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Angus Elkins
Senior Sales Specialist for Ocean Systems
Angus supports our customers with everything robotics, cameras, WaveRadar systems and more.
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Nick Mortimer
Creative Lead
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Kirsten Robinson
Marketing Executive
Kirsten is our comms specialist and copywriting extraordinaire, who also assists in organising our events and website.
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Louise Horn
Logistics and Compliance Coordinator
Louise is our logistics and compliance expert, keeping us in check wherever she can.
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Jenny Puszkar
Commercial Support Executive
Jenny is an integral part of our sales team, making sure our orders are processed efficiently and correctly
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Rachel Richards
Assistant Accountant
Rachel ensures all our accounting and finance is up to scratch and supports our senior management team with budgeting.
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Victoria Wain
Sales Operation Coordinator
As part of the operations team, Victoria is responsible for our customer service.
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John Peters
Ocean Systems Technician
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Vamsi Karnam
Embedded Systems Engineer
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Rahul Tandon
Data Engineer
Rahul is a machine learning data engineer working on Project MARLIN.
Join the team
Recruiting and retaining the best staff is key to RS Aqua’s continuing success story, and that’s why training and development are absolutely vital to us.
If you are looking for a career at RS Aqua, please send in your CV with a covering letter explaining the type of role that interests you to info@rsaqua.co.uk
Talk to one of our advisers
Get in touch with us for further information or for a conversation about any of our innovative and reliable ocean technology systems, sensors or services.