70 years of Cathelco: our story so far
This year, we celebrate 70 years of Cathelco.
Founded in 1956 and headquartered in the UK, we have spent seven decades focused on protecting ships and the systems that keep them running.
Where it started
Our first Marine Growth Prevention System was installed in 1963 on a Royal Navy submarine. The principle behind it is electrolysis: copper and aluminium anodes prevent marine organisms from colonising seawater pipework while suppressing corrosion. The science has not changed. What has evolved is the technology around it, from panels to controls to digital capability.
Over the following decades, MGPS and ICCP became an industry standard. Our systems are now installed on more than 20,000 vessels worldwide, across commercial shipping, offshore, naval, and leisure marine sectors. We operate from offices in the UK, India, the Middle East, and Singapore, supported by a distribution and service network spanning more than 40 locations.
What has kept us here
Less than 1% of the systems we supply fail. That is a track record built on engineering rigour, consistent service, and a team that understands what vessel operators actually need.
People really collaborate to get the job done. Whatever the barrier, whatever the customer need, people will get it done. The seemingly impossible is possible.”
Customers come to us because they trust the product and the people behind it. Our systems are so widely recognised that, as one colleague recently put it, “you say the word Cathelco and they already know.”
Since 2018, we have been part of the Evac Group, a Finland-based cleantech company. That partnership has brought new resources and a wider strategic perspective, while the core of what we do has stayed the same.
Broadening the portfolio
Our most significant recent development is USP DragGone™, a patented ultrasonic biofouling prevention system designed for hull protection. Every vessel with an MGPS system is also a candidate for hull protection, and DragGone™ is the only system on the market that uses Guided Wave and Heterodyning technologies to deliver broader frequency coverage and larger protection areas per transducer than conventional ultrasonic systems.
DragGone™ has been independently validated at the DHI Maritime Technology Evaluation Facility and is now installed across a range of vessel types, from superyachts and passenger ferries to bulk carriers and offshore support vessels. It has been recognised with the Technology of the Year award at the Maritime Decarbonisation Awards and the Innovation category at the Ship Technology Excellence Awards.
Where we are going next
The regulatory landscape around biofouling is tightening. The IMO’s focus on biofouling management continues to sharpen, and vessel operators are increasingly looking for practical, proven solutions that fit within evolving compliance frameworks.
We are investing in both our product range and our approach to market to make sure we remain a useful, accessible partner for the people navigating these changes.
Nick Cowley
President of cathelco