Emerging Walk-to-Work Gangway Players and their Impact on the SOV Market

The innovative walk to work (W2W) gangway market is a crucial component of safe and efficient offshore operations. Amid a global ramp-up, SOVs have emerged as the heartbeat of this segment. But who are the major players and how does the market shape up?

‍What is a walk-to-work gangway?

A motion-compensated W2W gangway is a vessel-mounted bridge that connects to offshore structures. These gangways use systems to offset vessel motion and ensure safe personnel and equipment transfers at sea. W2W gangways are widely used across the global offshore fleet but mainly with:

1. Service Operation Vessels (SOVs)—representing 35% of the W2W market with almost all equipped with permanent motion-compensated systems. 
2. Construction and multipurpose vessels—these units with large decks and cranes (50–500t), make up 21% of the W2W market. 
3. Accommodation vessels—hold 20% of the W2W market. 

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Our Market Intelligence solution indexes the gangway manufacturers of the entire fleet, but this analysis focuses on the SOV sector. SOV is one of the most buoyant offshore segments, and is characterized by strong growth and a diverse mix of established and emerging manufacturers.

‍SOV walk-to-work gangway manufacturer market share

The market share of W2W gangway manufacturers can be split into three main categories: historical players, emerging players and other players.

‍Historical Players 

These are the first manufacturers that entered the market and secured its largest share. This category includes top players SMST, Ampelmann, and Uptime.

‍Emerging Players 

The emerging players are those who are seizing the opportunities offered by SOV market growth. MacGregor is a key example after entering the market in 2022 and quickly securing contracts. Seaonics, IMECA, and Ulmatec—which equipped the first two U.S.-built SOVs for ECO—are other manufacturers that have taken advantage of these growing market opportunities. 

‍Other Players 

There are some companies, such as Barge Master and Safeway, that are no longer active in the SOV gangway market. They last delivered equipment in 2017 and 2021 respectively. 

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Today, the motion-compensated gangway market is dominated by a few players despite a generally competitive supplier landscape. SMST, Ampelmann, and Uptime combined account for the majority of installed and upcoming units. SMST is the market leader with 39 gangways (including four options), reflecting their strong demand. Ampelmann, with a proven track record in offshore wind operations, follows with 28 units. Uptime currently has 24 units in the market. 

However, the emerging players are showing the increased competitiveness of the sector. MacGregor became quickly established, however, Seaonics—a Vard subsidiary—is beginning to gain traction as Vard’s expanding SOV orderbook brings new integration opportunities. 

‍SOV Fleet Analysis

An analysis of gangway manufacturer distribution for units delivered after 2022 reveals a competitive and increasingly diverse market landscape. While established players continue to lead, emerging competitors are gaining more and more traction—Seaonics has already secured the second-largest order book. 

Beyond gangways, most SOVs are also equipped with light 3D motion-compensated cranes. Only a few manufacturers—IMECA Reel, MacGregor, SMST, and Seaonics—offer fully integrated packages that combine both systems. This gives them a clear competitive advantage as evidenced when Edda Wind chose to source gangway and crane packages from the same manufacturer. This decision demonstrates a strategic approach to ensuring both system compatibility and operational efficiency. 

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We track the global W2W gangway sector within our Market Intelligence solution. With full manufacturer and fleet coverage you have easy access to the analytics that will help unlock effective market-beating strategies. Find out more with a free, customized demo: www.spinergie.com/demo.  

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