On Our Radar: The Offshore Trends We’re Seeing Right Now

Increase in UK 12 Mile Work 

Throughout much of 2026, one theme has stood out: a significant rise in UK 12-mile work. The catch is that to work within the UK 12 Mile, you need to be a UK national or hold the right to work in the UK. This narrows the pool of candidates we can put forward considerably. There’s also a willingness factor at play: even among those who are eligible, many are reluctant to take on UK work, as it can affect their Seafarers’ Earnings Deduction (SED) claims. So, it’s not just about who can work within the 12 Mile, it’s also about who wants to, once the tax implications are factored in. 

 These restrictions tie into another trend we’re seeing, a tightening of compliance. In the past, compliance requirements were far more relaxed; if you had the right skills, you could usually secure the role without much difficulty. Now, we’re seeing highly skilled candidates miss out simply because they don’t meet the compliance requirements for a given role. To be clear, if you’re not put forward for something, it’s not a reflection of your skills, it’s down to these specific requirements we have to work within. 

That said, with UK 12-mile work continuing to ramp up, we expect this trend to carry through into 2027. It may therefore be worth considering these roles even where the tax burden is higher, given how much more work is available, especially at a time when the wider market is quieter than usual. 

Increased Demand For eBOSS Experience 

A surprising trend we have seen this year is an increase in demand for personnel with eBOSS (EdgeTech’s Buried Object Sonar System) experience. eBOSS is a low-frequency acoustic imaging system capable of penetrating the seabed to detect and classify buried objects, including unexploded ordnance (UXO), pipelines, cables and other subsea infrastructure. Originally developed for UXO detection, the technology has also been adapted for wider survey applications, including cable and pipeline depth-of-burial tracking and route surveys. As demand for this specialist experience increases, freelancers with eBOSS experience can offer a valuable and increasingly sought-after skill set. If you have worked with eBOSS, make sure this experience is clearly highlighted on your CV and profile. If you’ve carried out remote processing involving eBOSS, also be sure to list the specific software you used for that work. 

Boom in Interconnector Cable Lay Projects 

We have also seen a notable increase in interconnector cable-lay projects, particularly across the UK and France. This has contributed to increased demand for personnel with QINSy experience, particularly those who have worked on cable-lay and associated survey projects. As interconnector and other subsea cable projects continue to develop, we expect demand for relevant experience to remain strong. For freelancers, this highlights the value of maintaining a clear record of project-specific experience, particularly across cable installation, survey and offshore renewable infrastructure.