Barge Master

About Barge Master

Barge Master, established in 2009 by Martijn Koppert, operates from Rotterdam, Netherlands, to provide motion compensation technology for the maritime and offshore sectors. The company was founded with the specific goal of mitigating weather-related downtime, which can cause significant delays and increase costs for offshore operations. Koppert, who continues to lead the company as CEO, founded the firm alongside a Mr. Van den Bos. Since its inception, Barge Master has secured significant investment, including an early-stage investment from Frans van Seumeren in 2010 and a majority stake acquisition by Parcom Capital in 2014. The company has raised a total of $49.2 million over three funding rounds, with the latest being a Series B round in October 2022 that raised $7.39 million from investors including the Rotterdam Energy Transition Fund.

The firm's business model centers on the development, production, and rental of motion compensation systems that stabilize offshore platforms and equipment against wave movements. This allows clients in the offshore wind, oil and gas, and heavy civil marine construction industries to operate safely and continuously, even in adverse sea conditions. Barge Master's technology is designed to be retrofitted onto existing vessels, providing a cost-effective alternative to commissioning larger, specialized ships. By neutralizing the heave, pitch, and roll of a vessel, the systems create a fixed and stable working base on the water.

Barge Master offers a portfolio of specialized products. The BM-T700 Platform serves as a modular base for various equipment like cranes and excavators, compensating for vessel motions to create a steady workspace. The Next Generation Gangway facilitates the safe transfer of personnel and cargo up to 1,000 kg to and from offshore structures. For lifting operations, the BM-T40 Crane allows for controlled lifts in high sea states, reportedly increasing the number of workable days in the North Sea from 180 to 330 annually. A newer application, the 'Feeder' platform, is designed to support the construction of offshore wind farms by enabling the continuous supply of turbine components to installation vessels at sea.