About Blackfish Engineering

ABOUT BLACKFISH
ENGINEERING

The mechanical engineering consultancy for problems that don't fit a standard process

Blackfish is a mechanical engineering design consultancy. We work with innovators developing complex hardware, from a first sketch through to something that's been built, tested and installed. We thrive on taking on problems that are yet to have an obvious solution.

Our Story

How It Started

Blackfish was founded in 2016 by Jon, Ioan and Tim after years spent designing tidal turbines together at Tidal Generation Ltd. When the business closed, they took that hard-won knowledge, from design and manufacture through to configuration control and long-term product support, and built something new.

The Journey So Far

We started Blackfish to keep doing that work, for a wider range of clients and problems. Since then we've delivered hundreds of projects, from prototypes and tidal devices to our own mooring technology, C-DART, and in 2026 marked ten years of practical engineering built on trusted client relationships.

What We're Known For

Our biggest success isn't a single drawing or project. It's the reputation we've built for turning complex ideas into engineered reality, proven most clearly by C-DART: developed to solve one offshore mooring challenge, now approaching commercialisation across multiple marine sectors.

Still Small, By Design

We are still a relatively small team of mainly engineers. That is deliberate. It means the people who scope your project are the people who do the engineering. We now have a footprint spread across the UK as well as Europe.

blackfish engineering team in production facility

OUR APPROACH

Multidisciplinary Capability

Mechanical design, simulation, manufacturing, and testing sit under one roof, so you have a single point of contact.

Bespoke Problem Solving

We take on the problems that don't fit a standard approach, because that's the work we're built for.

Practical Manufacturing Experience

Hands-on engineering experience across offshore renewables, industrial equipment and emerging hardware technologies.

Embedded Partnerships

As an agile, flexible consultancy, we work as part of your team from day one, with communications at all levels.

Agile Delivery

We adapt as a project develops, rather than locking you into a fixed scope from day one.

Passion For Challenge

We're motivated by finding solutions to unique, difficult challenges.

Locations

Bristol is Blackfish's head office and the City where the company was founded. It's internationally recognised for
engineering, with a strong aerospace industry and a growing offshore renewables sector on its doorstep, giving us
access to a wide talent pool and strong industry connections.
Our Bristol team also leads the development of C-Dart and our vessel charging systems, and runs our workshops
supporting early-stage technology developers.
Blackfish created a team in Aberdeen to build on Scotland's strong position in offshore engineering and renewable energy, giving our clients direct access to local expertise.

Our Aberdeen team supports established wave and tidal clients, brings our floating platform design experience into the offshore wind sector, and is the centre of our simulation and modelling
capability. The team is led by Dr James Hastie, simulation and modelling lead engineer
Our North Wales facility gives Blackfish dedicated space for assembly, integration and testing, helping us move projects beyond the design stage and into hardware validation. It supports prototype builds, trial assemblies, product development and client equipment testing, giving our engineers direct access to the hardware as they refine, validate and prepare systems for deployment.
Blackfish is expanding its presence in Spain with a base in Madrid bringing our engineering support closer to clients working across Southern Europe.
Our work extends beyond our UK and European bases, with experience supporting clients across North America. We work flexibly across locations, time zones and project requirements to give clients direct access to our engineering team.

PartnersHIPS & Affiliations

Recent Projects

A selection of projects showcasing our engineering solutions.

Mocean Blue X Wave Energy Converter

Blackfish have been working with Mocean Energy since 2017, helping them design, fabricate, assemble and
commission their Blue X Wave Energy Converter that was installed in Orkney in the summer of 2021. Blackfish were
responsible for almost the entire mechanical design, structural assessment, system integration and assembly
planning.

Fatigue assessment for Offshore Wind Turbine secondary steel-work

Blackfish have developed a test rig to allow Airbus to test hydrogen fuel cells suitability for the aerospace industry.
The electrification of aeroplanes is a key target to reduce emissions, particularly damaging at altitude. The test table
is able to pitch and roll a 500kg fuel cells to angles up to 50 degrees, demonstrating functionality prior to flight
testing.

Fatigue assessment for Offshore Wind Turbine secondary steel-work

VIEW ALL PROJECTS

Discuss Your Challenge With Our Engineers

We're passionate about solving challenging engineering problems. If your organisation has a problem that needs solving, we would love to discuss it with you.