MEWO, a Polish company specialising in offshore research and the operation of its own vessels, has sold 30% of its shares to the Polish investment fund Vinci for PLN 62.5 million, securing significant capital for growth. Plans include the acquisition of new ships and specialised equipment to support both domestic and international projects.

MEWO, based in Straszyn, provides marine survey and measurement services, with its vessels employed on infrastructure and energy projects across the Polish Baltic Sea, including offshore wind farms. Its clients include offshore companies within the Orlen Group. The transaction was officially signed on 20 March aboard the MEWO vessel Amber Cecilia, docked in Gdańsk, in the presence of Finance and Economy Minister Andrzej Domański and Deputy Infrastructure Minister Arkadiusz Marchewka.

“Today we are heavily involved in all current infrastructure investments in the Baltic Sea. But we want more. We aim to replace some of our Western competitors with Polish vessels, Polish equipment, and a highly skilled domestic workforce,” said Paweł Gajewski, CEO of MEWO.

The additional capital will allow MEWO to invest in a larger vessel and expand its services to more clients. Gajewski also highlighted plans to deploy high-precision underwater vehicles, enabling the company to offer services it has not previously performed.

The total investment programme is expected to exceed PLN 130 million, with MEWO previously receiving PLN 4.9 million from PARP.

Bartosz Drabikowski, CEO of Vinci, said the investment supports the retention of domestic know-how and skilled personnel. He described data collection on the Baltic Sea and other waters as a “Polish amber of the digital era.” Deputy Minister Marchewka emphasised that expanding Poland’s offshore research capacity strengthens the country’s presence in the Baltic.

“This is how local content should work: public funds invested in Polish companies employing Polish people, carrying out scientific and research work in a sector as strategically important as offshore,” he said.

Minister Domański added that MEWO’s expanded involvement will generate more data on Baltic Sea conditions, with potential applications in defence and security.

Gajewski praised Vinci’s professional approach to the transaction.

“The audit was conducted by one of the world’s largest firms. Legally and financially, we were examined thoroughly. But the attitude and willingness of Vinci to invest in MEWO to support our growth was invaluable,” he said.

Although Vinci acquired a minority stake, it has certain veto rights over key decisions. According to Poland’s Office of Competition and Consumer Protection (UOKiK), Vinci obtained approval to acquire control over MEWO, but Gajewski emphasised that ultimate control remains with the company’s existing shareholders.

“The goal for Vinci and for us is to ensure that MEWO becomes a very successful and profitable public company,” he added.

MEWO is a leading private operator in Poland’s offshore research sector, involved in all offshore projects in the country. The company has completed more than 125 projects, working for major Polish developers including Orlen, Gaz-System, and PGE. Vinci is an investment fund active in Poland and abroad, part of the Bank Gospodarstwa Krajowego group, wholly owned by the Polish State Treasury.