SubC Imaging 

Located in Clarenville, Newfoundland and Labrador, SubC Imaging is known for creating some of the world’s most advanced underwater optical imaging systems for the offshore and subsea markets.

In 2010, Chad Collett and Adam Rowe were working in a tiny basement office trying to launch their subsea imaging and video company. “We developed things quickly. We made lots of mistakes,” says Collett, the company’s Founder and CEO. The two entrepreneurs learned from their experiences, and today the company has 25 employees and a global client base of over 220 clients.

“We are focused on optical quality and the efficiency of obtaining high-quality data. It’s about more than meeting technical specs,” notes Collett, who began his career as a diver with the Canadian Navy, then went on to work gigs with Oceaneering and Welaptega Marine.

Making international waves

SubC’s market is both diverse and competitive, and spans throughout the Ocean Science, Offshore Energy, Marine Research, Fisheries, Aquaculture and Defense industries. From the desert heat of Saudi Arabia, to the harsh cold of the Arctic Ocean, to the depths of Marianas Trench, SubC’s technologies are in operation in over 30 different countries across the globe.

In 2023, SubC was selected to provide Ocean Infinity, a pioneer in marine technology and robotic vessel operations, with a sophisticated Digital Video Recorder (DVR) system capable of integrating with its new class of robot vessels. These vessels seek to create greener environments by reducing ecological footprints, while increasing health and safety measures for teams working in harsh offshore conditions.

SubC also provides a wide range of remote operations solutions, including cloud-based software and comprehensive hardware technologies that combine to unlock remote inspections and surveys, including unmanned ROV and USV piloting. Fugro, a global leader in geotechnical, survey, subsea, and geoscience services, recently used SubC’s remote operations technology to successfully conduct the world's first fully remote inspection of offshore wind farm assets.

A new generation of technology

Creativity is critical in developing products and services for clients with very particular subsea requirements explains Chad. “We look heavily at the user experience to develop products specific to a job. Consultation is inherent in market success and customer satisfaction”, he adds. “Test your product with your user. Don’t just test the hypothesis.” 

The Newfoundland and Labrador company is doing just that as it focuses on its next generation of technology - the Rayfin Single Channel Inspection (SCI) System. Used for live inspections and surveys, this technology provides real-time topside media and data transfer, providing immediate access to critical data and eliminating the need for time-consuming downloads. The company is turning its attention to multi-channel versions set to released later this year.

Partnerships focused on innovation and new technology are key to SubC Imaging’s continued success. With support from Government of Canada programming, the Atlantic Canada Opportunities Agency (ACOA) continues to help SubC create new, innovative technologies while supporting Atlantic Canada’s growing economy.

Learn more about SubC Imaging and its product offerings here: https://www.subcimaging.com/