Underwater connectors are the devices that are placed on the ocean floor for power transmission, data transfer, and deep sea monitoring. These connectors are an essential part of all underwater projects. Different types of underwater connectors include dry-mate, wet-mate, optical, hybrid, and mateable products. They are especially designed to be durable, high performance and cost effective. These connectors are used for underwater applications, avoiding damage due to water seepage. They are manufactured using a wide range of materials such as polymer, glass, copper, stainless steel and rubber. Underwater connectors are widely used in the sectors such as oil and gas, defence and military, oceanographic systems and many others. These industries demand properly designed and reliable heavy-duty subsea connectors to carry out activities such as sonar, guidance, communication, and navigation. Mateable electrical connectors offer a great degree of flexibility with little maintenance under critical situations. Furthermore, stainless steel connectors provide incredible resistance to temperatures above 2,000 degrees Fahrenheit, have high tensile strength and can operate under high pressure in deep ocean beds. Owing to the advanced functionality and wide range of applications, the Underwater Connectors Market size was held USD 1.1 billion in 2020, and is estimated to reach USD 1.9 billion by 2030 with a CAGR of 5.5% from 2020-2030.

Market Segmentation:

On the basis of type the market is segmented into rubber – moulded, inductive coupling, and fluid filled connector. By application, the market is classified into military, oil & gas, telecommunications, oceanography and others. On the basis of region, the market is categorised as North America, Europe, Asia Pacific, and RoW.

Market Dynamics and Factors:

Rising demand for high-speed, accurate, and efficient underwater data transfer is driving the growth of the marine cables and connectors market. According to a research, AUV (Autonomous Underwater Vehicles) sector is expected to grow over USD 1.48 billion by 2025. These vehicles are used in commercial exploration of oil and gas, military tasks, and oceanographic research activities. Moreover, security concerns on ports and harbours are also expected to enhance the growth of underwater cameras, ocean bottom seismic systems, fluid-filled connectors, video & lighting systems, and diving systems. The major restraining factors are the high cost of installing complex circuitry under deep sea and ocean floors coupled with high maintenance charges. However, technological advancements such as underwater robots used for intelligence, surveillance, inspection, underwater repair maintenance, navigation and communication are expected to fuel the market in the upcoming years. In addition to this, government initiatives to improve marine connectivity and funding on research and development are also anticipated to have a positive impact.

Geographic Analysis:

Owing to rapid advancements and innovative technology coupled with a strong military and naval base, North America is currently dominating and is predicted to continue in the near future. For instance, in 2016 the United States Department of Defence announced an investment of USD 600 million for the development of variable payload unmanned undersea vehicles, over the period of 2016 to 2020. This investment was majorly made by the U.S. Navy to improve surveillance and rescue operations, acoustic surveillance, and anti-submarine warfare operation. With the rise of new oil & gas production hubs along with the investments in autonomous marine automotive, Europe and Asia Pacific is expected to show striking growth, thereby, boosting the demand for underwater power infrastructure setups. Middle East & Africa is predicted to witness significant growth majorly due to the increase in the number of oil and gas exploration projects and production activities.

Competitive Scenario:

Major players in the market are EATON, SEACON, Cooper Interconnect Inc., TELEDYNE MARINE, Nautic Expo, Sea and Land Technologies Pte. Ltd., Ocean Innovations, Esterline Connection Technologies, and BIRNS.

Underwater Connectors Market Report Scope