Motive Offshore Group announced on June 4, 2026, that it has acquired C-Kore, a UK-based subsea cable monitoring and integrity technology company. The deal is designed to strengthen Motive’s Certification & Inspection division, which is expected to grow to roughly 35% of total company turnover as a result.
Motive acquires C-Kore in subsea technology deal
The acquisition marks a deliberate shift in Motive’s strategic direction. Until now, the company’s Testing, Inspection and Certification work relied on conventional service delivery. Bringing C-Kore into the fold introduces something different: proprietary intellectual property and a dedicated R&D function focused specifically on subsea cable technology.
That shift carries real financial weight. Raising the Certification & Inspection division to approximately 35% of total turnover signals that Motive views technology-led services as a core growth engine — not a secondary offering.
Why Motive pursued C-Kore
C-Kore’s appeal was rooted in what the Yorkshire-based firm had already built on its own. CEO Dave Acton specifically cited the company’s ability to win and execute global projects through a single UK entity as a key attraction — operational efficiency that matters considerably in practice.
C-Kore’s subsea testing tools deliver rapid, automated fault detection and support seamless installation operations. Compared to conventional methods, the technology reduces both vessel time and personnel requirements, two of the largest cost drivers in offshore cable work.
Motive also noted that C-Kore’s capabilities align with the evolving requirements of its existing client base. The acquisition was not primarily about adding headcount or geographic footprint. It was about adding technology that clients are already beginning to ask for.
Expected effects on both companies
For C-Kore, joining Motive unlocks a distribution network it could not easily build independently. Motive operates regional entities across the Americas, Europe, the Middle East, and Asia-Pacific — meaning C-Kore’s tools can now reach customers in those markets without requiring local presences built from scratch.
Acton described the opportunity as building on success already achieved by C-Kore’s leadership team, while extending customer support through Motive’s international infrastructure. For Motive, the deal provides a scalable technology platform within a division it has targeted for growth.
Existing C-Kore customers are expected to see no disruption. Greg Smith, C-Kore’s Operations Director, confirmed that supporting current customers without interruption remains a priority under the new structure. The transition is designed to expand reach, not reset relationships.
C-Kore’s technology and market position
C-Kore develops subsea testing and measurement tools used across fault-finding, installation, and decommissioning applications. Active across the global cable market, the company has identified growth potential in offshore wind and decommissioning — two sectors drawing increased investment in both domestic and international markets.
Operations will continue from Yorkshire headquarters. That location is not incidental: the region offers access to a strong electronics and software engineering talent pool, which directly supports C-Kore’s ongoing R&D work.
Leadership continuity is also part of the plan. Greg Smith remains Operations Director, and Cynthia Pikaar continues as Sales and Marketing Director. Both were central to building C-Kore’s commercial track record. Motive has chosen to keep that team in place rather than restructure from above — a signal that the existing culture and momentum are considered assets worth preserving. Pikaar’s continued involvement in sales and marketing suggests the company intends to push commercial growth alongside operational expansion.
Key takeaways
The acquisition brings together Motive’s global service infrastructure and C-Kore’s proprietary subsea cable technology. For Motive, it adds dedicated R&D capability and a technology-driven revenue stream to its Certification & Inspection division, now projected to represent roughly 35% of total company turnover.
C-Kore gains access to Motive’s regional networks across four major markets, enabling international scale that would have been difficult to reach independently. Existing customers will continue receiving uninterrupted service, and the current leadership team stays in place.
Both companies are now positioned to pursue growth in offshore wind and decommissioning, sectors where demand for advanced subsea cable testing is expected to rise. C-Kore’s automated, cost-reducing tools are well suited to those environments, and Motive’s network provides the commercial reach to pursue them at scale.
Carlos is an engineer with strong expertise in technical and industrial topics. He previously worked at international companies such as Siemens and speaks Spanish, German, English, and Italian.
