Winners

Maritime Developments Limited (MDL) is an engineering specialist for the energy industry, with a focus on subsea lay and retrieval operations. From its base in Westhill, Aberdeenshire, MDL offers a turnkey service for global operations, including project engineering, equipment for rent or sale and personnel support, on or offshore.

MDL has been honoured with a Queen’s Award for Enterprise in the International Trade category, recognised for Outstanding Continuous Growth in overseas sales over the past six years. The company has seen its exports grow 192% in the six-year award period, with top markets including Norway, China, Angola, India and the Netherlands.

Thanks to the versatility of MDL equipment and its in-house skillset, the company’s offering has historically been applicable to the oil and gas sector (including decommissioning), but is now pivoting towards the renewable markets, including offshore power generation.
MDL’s main market differentiator is its in-house technology, which focuses on top safety and efficiency of lay or retrieval operations, with the key goal being to reduce project length, and therefore associated costs and environmental impacts.

MDL technology allows its customers to convert their vessels into efficient lay vessels temporarily, improving their fleet utilisation without the requirement to move dedicated vessels around the world for specific projects or campaigns.

Employing over 70 people across its two key bases in Westhill and Peterhead, MDL was set up in 1999 as an engineering specialist to the North Sea fishing sector. In the early 2000s it transferred its skillsets and marine expertise into energy sectors, providing equipment, personnel and consultancy services for handling flexible subsea products such as cables, moorings, umbilicals and fluid transfer lines.

Derek Smith, MDL CEO, said: “This Award is a recognition for the dedication of One Team MDL to our mission: to solve challenges faced by our customers. I want to thank all our employees for their hard work and commitment in continuing to deliver the MDL standard of service every day, as well as our customers over the years for trusting our company in enabling their projects.

“With solid foundations in place and fantastic talent on our team, I trust that this trend will continue – so I am excited for our onward journey!”