Film-Ocean Completes Fleet Expansion with SMD Atom ROV Delivery

2 September 2026
Edited By: Haley McQueen

Film-Ocean, in partnership with its parent company, STAPEM Group, has taken delivery of a new SMD Atom® ultra-compact work-class ROV, completing a major fleet investment program first announced last year.

(Image credit: Film-Ocean)

As part of a long-standing partnership, the SMD Atom joins two SMD Quantum® 250-hp heavy-duty work-class ROVs delivered in October 2025 and January 2026, bringing Film-Ocean’s total fleet of SMD vehicles to six. Selected for Boka Komodo, the new system is scheduled to be mobilized later this year for a long-term opportunity in Angola.

Commenting on the investment, Merv New, CEO of Film-Ocean, said: “Taking delivery of our second SMD Atom completes a significant chapter in our fleet development.

“Alongside our two SMD Quantum systems delivered in 2025 and early 2026, we have built on our range and capacity to support clients across a much broader spectrum of subsea operations, from heavy construction through to inspection and light intervention.

“The West Africa region remains a key focus for us, alongside Asia and Norway, and we’re well-placed to meet the demand we’re seeing there.”

Designed for powerful work-class performance within a compact platform, the SMD Atom delivers 100 hp and operates at a depth of up to 3,000 m. Its versatile design offers greater deployment flexibility across a range of vessels, enabling operators to maximize deck space without compromising on vehicle capability.

Lee Carden, Senior Key Account Manager at SMD, said: “Our successful partnership with Film-Ocean is built on trust, shared values and a long-term commitment to achieving excellence together.

“This latest investment reflects the confidence Film-Ocean has in the quality, reliability and performance of our work-class ROVs, as well as our shared passion for upholding the highest standards of engineering.”

For Mike Mackie, Operations Director at Film-Ocean, the SMD Atom’s versatility was its key differentiator: “The SMD Atom is a powerful system in a compact package. It gives us real operational flexibility, particularly for projects where vessel size or deck space would otherwise be a limiting factor.

“Combined with our SMD Quantum capability, Film-Ocean can now offer clients a genuinely comprehensive work-class ROV service.”

To find out more about Film-Ocean, visit www.film-ocean.com. For more on the SMD Atom, visit www.smd.co.uk.