Global Ocean’s journey began in 2019 with the founding of Advanced Air by Matthew (Matt) Wiggins, a seasoned leader with over 30 years of experience owning and managing shipyards in Australia. As the Australian shipbuilding market slowed, Matt saw an opportunity to pivot, leveraging his deep knowledge of marine engineering to support the growing aquaculture sector with specialised equipment such as air compressors and power systems. This marked the start of a broader mission: to innovate across ocean industries while staying rooted in marine engineering.
As the company thrived, new opportunities emerged. The rising demand for sustainable aquaculture solutions aligned perfectly with oxygen systems, leading to the creation of Global Ocean Systems in 2022. This company was dedicated to delivering cutting-edge oxygenation solutions for aquaculture clients. In 2025, the oxygenation solutions were rebranded as “Advanced Oxygen” to streamline operations and create a fresh identity for the business.
The success of Advanced Air soon opened new doors. In 2022, a strategic partnership with Poseidon Ocean Systems led to the creation of Global Ocean (GO) Systems, a specialised oxygenation company. Matt invited James Bender—a well-respected figure in aquaculture with expertise in farming operations and biology—to join as a partner. Together, they developed and delivered turnkey oxygenation solutions tailored to the demands of sustainable aquaculture.
At the same time, Matt sold his shipyard interests in Australia and joined Southern Ocean Solutions (SOS) international shipbuilding team, continuing to deliver vessels across Australia and New Zealand.
Later in 2025, the Global Ocean parent company was established to integrate the expertise of six specialised companies—Global Ocean Marine, Advanced Power, Advanced Air, Advanced Oxygen, and Global Ocean Finance. Thanks to the passionate leadership within each business group, Global Ocean has created a collaborative framework for delivering seamless and innovative solutions across industries.
In late 2024, Matt stepped back from Southern Ocean Solutions to pursue a bold new ambition: uniting a core team under a single banner. By 2025, Global Ocean Group was formed, bringing together Advanced Air, Advanced Power, and Global Ocean Systems—while launching Global Ocean Marine, a dedicated team of engineers, project managers, and naval architects committed to vessel design and marine innovation.
Matt’s vision expanded further with the creation of Advanced Power and Global Ocean Engineering, bringing in elite partners, shareholders, and technical expertise to address the critical infrastructure and operational needs of the marine and aquaculture sectors.
Today, Global Ocean Group is streamlined into three focused companies, each with independent leadership but united by a shared commitment to advancing ocean industries. This structure fosters collaboration across disciplines, enabling Global Ocean Group to deliver seamless, forward-thinking solutions that support ocean industries and coastal communities around the world.
