Craftsmen at Sea

Our DNA

A Family-Owned Shipping Company
– Driven by Craftsmanship

We can’t direct the wind but we can adjust the sails

Northern Survey was founded on a combination of many years of experience and an uncompromising commitment to quality.

The company’s founder and owner, Thomas Roed, still sails as captain and is known for approaching challenges in an extremely pragmatic and analytical manner.

Your value is not in your rank, but in your effort

At the heart of our operations are our employees. That is why Northern Survey is deeply committed to hiring skilled professionals, both on board our vessels and at our headquarters in Aarhus. There is a strong focus in both locations on identifying and developing talent. We remain focused every day because every role, in every position, is important to the success of our operations.

Our daily operations are guided by a flat organizational structure and a philosophy that emphasizes the value of every individual’s effort.

Our story

1990s
Tall Ships
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The roots of Northern Surveys’ craftsmanship trace back to the 1990s, when founder Thomas Roed sailed the old schooners – working his way from AB to Chief Officer and Captain. The hands-on seamanship from these years laid the foundation for the company’s practical and detail-oriented approach.

Early 2000s
Offshore Beginnings
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In the early 2000s, Thomas became co-owner of a vessel contributing to the construction of Denmark’s first offshore wind farm, Horns Rev 2. This marked the first step into the offshore industry that would later define Northern Survey.

Mid-2000s
Superyacht Industry
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During the mid-2000s, Thomas worked in the superyacht industry as Head of Guarantee and Delivery Captain on newbuilds. Here, he refined his eye for detail, finish, and quality — values that remain key to Northern Surveys’ craftsmanship today.

2009
Northern Survey Founded
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In 2009, Thomas founded Northern Survey, combining hands-on experience from tall ships, the precision and finish from superyachts, and deep offshore expertise. These diverse roots continue to define the company’s quality and versatility.

2012
Barents Sea Operations
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In 2012, Northern Survey secured a three-year contract in the Barents Sea with the vessel Northern Karoline. Operating under challenging Arctic conditions further strengthened the
company’s offshore capabilities and experience in remote environments.

2015
Fleet Expansion
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In 2015, Northern Survey expanded its fleet with the vessel Northern Cecilia. At that time, we could hardly imagine that our ships – or our company – would ever grow much larger than this.

2021
Upscaling
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By 2021, Northern Survey operated four vessels and had long-term contracts with trusted clients. At this point, the company had grown strong both at sea and onshore – with a skilled team capable of taking on more complex projects. This made it possible to invest in a larger vessel, Northern Maria, and convert her into a specialised Survey/ROV Support vessel.
Combining craftsmanship, technical expertise, and a solution-driven mindset, the team built a solid ship tailored to meet the highest demands of our clients.

Present
Strength at Sea and Ashore
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Today, Northern Survey stands as a modern, specialized offshore company with a strong base in Aarhus and a fleet of advanced vessels operating across a wide range of offshore activities. Over the years, we have grown through experience, craftsmanship, and close collaboration with our clients.

But above all, our greatest strength lies in our people – the dedicated professionals both at sea and ashore. Their knowledge, hands-on mindset, and commitment to quality are what truly set Northern Survey apart. Whether maintaining vessels, managing projects, or supporting operations from land, it is this team spirit that keeps us moving forward and ensures that every task is carried out to the highest standard.

What Our Clients Say

Our strongest and most reliable partner

Northern Survey has been our strongest and most reliable partner for offshore and nearshore survey vessels since 2015. The highly dedicated and skilled personnel is operating on the highest service level to fulfill our demands in flexibility and complex technical survey set-ups.

Stefan Kramer, General Manager, VbW

Responsiveness and support

We worked on quite a few projects with Northern Survey and working with the Roed family is always a pleasure. The responsiveness and support from the Management is equally great like the quality of work and hands-on mentality of the vessel crew. Such collaboration as well as the constant pursuit of improvement and continuous forward-looking investments in vessels is not often found in the industry.

Malte Cesson, Commercial Manager, Fugro

Always flexible and adaptive to our and our clients requirements and needs

Ocean Infinity has spent more than 40 years under the surface creating the best of services. Still, we keep on designing efficient and safe solutions to explore the unexplored. A couple of years ago, we decided to concentrate our resources on the survey technology and outsource the management of ships. We found the perfect partner for Franklin in Northern Survey. Experienced in managing survey vessels, always flexible and adaptive to our and our clients requirements and needs.

Roy Lahte, Ship Manager, Ocean Infinity