In this series, we feature North Carolina companies that can help your company meet its business needs as you explore opportunities to develop the offshore wind industry (OSW) in North Carolina.

Man on a boat
Geodynamics employee Kurt Baker lowering a Side Scan Sonar “tow fish” using a custom bow mount designed for shallow water operations aboard Geodynamics research vessel Echo. Geodynamics’ research vessel Benthos is pictured in the background.

How does your business support the responsible development of offshore wind in North Carolina?

Geodynamics delivers research-quality coastal, seafloor, and sub-bottom mapping work to the OSW industry using high-resolution geophysical equipment (sensors) and a custom fleet of vessels suited for various marine environments. This enables OSW developers to site wind turbines and export cable corridors in carefully vetted locations that maximize efficiency while avoiding areas of environmental and cultural resource concern.

What excites you about the future of offshore wind in North Carolina?

Being able to use the lessons learned from mature markets overseas such as in the North Sea, and those markets in the U.S. such as those in New England, Maryland, Virginia, etc. to ensure projects are successful for all users and stakeholders. This includes everything from planning, design, construction and maintenance, and more administrative issues related to permitting, procurement, contracting and administration.

How did your business become involved in the offshore wind supply chain?

We started as a 3-person operation in 2001 focused on coastal mapping mainly for coastal resiliency projects for the government and private sectors, and as the OSW market evolved; we realized we could occupy a very specialized niche in the industry and made the necessary capital and resource investments to be well positioned in this space.

What do you want people to know about your business and your role in the offshore wind supply chain?

We require a highly skilled, educated workforce (~15 new hires in 2022 alone). And our growth means more OSW supply chain jobs for the graduates of programs offered by North Carolina universities and community colleges.

Our gross revenue nearly doubled in 2022 alone – most of which is attributable to our growth in the OSW space, which also results in more spending in North Carolina (parts, mechanical, technical and administrative services, etc.).

A control room used by personnel from Geodynamics
A Geodynamics data “command center” at sea.  While much of the work offshore occurs “on deck” with various sensors, just as much work is done in the work stations below deck that ensure data is being acquired properly and held to strict specifications.

What advice do you have for other North Carolina businesses that want to become involved with the offshore wind industry?

Do the homework necessary to reconcile how your business can fit into the market and realize the life cycle of OSW is very, very long – there are plenty of opportunities. Despite any headwinds the industry is facing or will face, the tail winds are much stronger (no pun intended), and North Carolina is fostering an environment to be successful.

To learn more about Geodynamics, visit geodynamicsgroup.com or contact Greg “Rudi” Rudolph, Director of Business Development. 

This page was last modified on 01/27/2023