Specialist cable installation and marine engineering business appointed as EPC contractor for key energy infrastructure project connecting islands to mainland clean power supplies
Bristol, 3rd February 2025 – Offshore Marine Subsea International (OMSI), a UK-based leader in subsea services and a subsidiary of Offshore Marine Management Holdings (OMMH) Group, has announced it has been selected to lead engineering, procurement and construction on a critical power infrastructure project in the Caribbean, connecting the islands of San Pedro and Caye Caulker with the Belizean mainland via a 34.5kV submarine cable.
San Pedro and Cay Caulker lie 11km from the mainland, with isolated local power grids. The installation will traverse part of the Caribbean Sea and once complete, will significantly improve the islands’ power reliability and efficiency to meet increasing electricity demands from local consumption and tourism. The connection will additionally deliver new cleaner power supplies from the Belizean mainland – which derives nearly 50% of its power from hydroelectric sources.
By connecting isolated islands to the main power grid, local communities can benefit from domestic, cleaner and cheaper supplies of energy – supporting wider economic development. This gives Belize a stronger backbone to its energy distribution and allows for the energy transition to help support a new smart grid strategy.
Additionally, with the Caribbean being the centre of storms and major hurricanes, along with increasingly volatile weather patterns attributed to climatic change, the new cable infrastructure will enable more reliable power supplies and provide consistent grid power from the mainland.
Planning for the project commenced early in 2024, with the Marine Route Survey completed in August. OMSI is overseeing all project phases – from engineering through to procurement and installation – with completion estimated by Spring 2025.
“The Caribbean faces a number of energy challenges including meeting rising energy demand, a need to shift from the increase of fossil fuel imports, and improve the resilience of power infrastructure,” said Rob Grimmond, Managing Director of OMSI. “The impact of projects like this is not just an infrastructure upgrade, but also a critical lifeline for regional resilience, both in terms of energy and economic prosperity. By connecting islands to a cleaner more reliable grid, we’re addressing energy security concerns and laying a strong foundation for growth and climate adaptation.”
With over two decades of experience, OMSI has completed more than 450 projects across four continents, with over 10 million man-hours. The company offers engineering solutions to the offshore energy industry, including survey support, offshore construction support, and operations and maintenance support.
“OSMI provides end-to-end offshore solutions, from surveys and subsea cable installation to final commissioning, ensuring reliable delivery for critical projects,” added Rob Grimmond. “Our expertise in subsea engineering and extensive track record uniquely positions us to address infrastructure gaps in regions like the Caribbean, supporting new power reliability and ultimately long term economic growth and development.”
About Offshore Marine Subsea International
OMSI is a global leader in cable installation and marine engineering services, committed to delivering high-quality, innovative solutions for infrastructure projects that drive sustainability and development worldwide. For more information, visit www.offshorems.com
