Dynamic Positioning System Market– Global Industry Size, Share, Trends, Opportunity, and Forecast, Segmented By Sub-Systems (Power Systems, DPS Control Systems, Sensors, Thruster Systems), By Application (Merchant Vessels, Offshore Vessels, Naval Vessels, Passenger Ships), By Equipment Type (Class 1, Class 2, Class 3), By Region & Competition, 2021-2031F

Forecast Period	2027-2031
Market Size (2025)	USD 6.81 Billion
CAGR (2026-2031)	7.36%
Fastest Growing Segment	Class 3
Largest Market	North America
Market Size (2031)	USD 10.43 Billion

Market Overview

The Global Dynamic Positioning System Market will grow from USD 6.81 Billion in 2025 to USD 10.43 Billion by 2031 at a 7.36% CAGR. A Dynamic Positioning System is an automated maritime technology that maintains a vessel's position and heading using its own thrusters rather than physical mooring lines. The market is primarily driven by the increasing necessity for precise station keeping in deepwater hydrocarbon exploration and the rapid development of the offshore renewable energy sector, which relies heavily on these systems for installation and maintenance operations. This sectoral growth is quantifiable and significant. According to the Global Wind Energy Council, in 2024, the global offshore wind industry added 8 GW of new capacity, which directly stimulates the demand for specialized support vessels equipped with this technology.

A significant challenge impeding market expansion involves the high capital expenditure required for acquiring and maintaining these complex systems. The substantial investment needed for hardware installation and the continuous costs associated with specialized crew training create financial barriers for shipowners, potentially slowing the adoption of this technology among smaller fleet operators.

Key Market Drivers

The accelerated expansion of offshore wind energy projects is fundamentally reshaping the Dynamic Positioning (DP) System market, as developers move further offshore into harsher environments that necessitate advanced station-keeping capabilities. This shift is characterized by a massive surge in project pipeline development, which directly correlates to the requirement for sophisticated Wind Turbine Installation Vessels (WTIVs) and Service Operation Vessels (SOVs) equipped with high-redundancy DP systems. This momentum is evidenced by the unprecedented volume of future capacity being secured globally. According to the Global Wind Energy Council, June 2025, in the 'Global Offshore Wind Report 2025', government auctions awarded a record 56 GW of new offshore wind capacity globally in 2024, signaling a robust long-term demand for DP-equipped fleets to construct and service these farms.

Simultaneously, rising deepwater oil and gas exploration activities are reinvigorating the market, as energy majors prioritize "advantaged" deepwater resources that require precise positioning for drilling rigs and Floating Production Storage and Offloading (FPSO) units. The complexity of these subsea operations demands reliable DP systems to ensure safety and operational efficiency during critical installation phases. This resurgence in the upstream sector is driving substantial procurement activity for subsea infrastructure, which is intrinsically linked to vessel utilization. According to TechnipFMC, February 2025, in the 'Fourth Quarter 2024 Results', the company secured subsea inbound orders totaling $10.4 billion in 2024, reflecting the intense activity in deepwater basins. This widespread demand across both renewable and hydrocarbon sectors has bolstered the order books of equipment manufacturers; according to Kongsberg Gruppen, February 2025, in the 'Financial results Q4 2024', the group exited the year with a record-high order backlog of NOK 128 billion.

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Key Market Challenges

The high capital expenditure required for acquiring and maintaining dynamic positioning systems stands as a formidable barrier to the growth of the Global Dynamic Positioning System Market. The financial burden extends beyond the initial purchase of the hardware, as it encompasses the integration of redundant power systems, specialized thrusters, and expensive sensor suites necessary for precise station keeping. This substantial upfront cost deters shipowners from commissioning new vessels or retrofitting existing fleets, particularly in an economic climate where profit margins for fleet operators are often tight. Consequently, many maritime companies delay fleet renewal programs, which directly stagnates the demand for new dynamic positioning installations.

This hesitation to invest is quantifying the supply gap in the sector and restricting the market's ability to scale in response to rising offshore demand. The magnitude of the required investment creates a bottleneck for fleet expansion. According to the International Marine Contractors Association (IMCA), in 2025, approximately USD 20 billion in capital spending is required to construct the 200 new specialized vessels needed just to meet European offshore wind targets. Such immense funding requirements effectively exclude smaller operators from the market and slow the broader adoption of this technology, thereby limiting the overall expansion of the Global Dynamic Positioning System Market.

Key Market Trends

The Emergence of Hybrid and Battery-Powered Dynamic Positioning is addressing the critical need for fuel efficiency in offshore operations. Operators are integrating energy storage with dynamic positioning setups to enable peak shaving, which optimizes engine utilization during station-keeping. This configuration allows vessels to maintain precise positioning while minimizing engine running hours, significantly lowering carbon footprints. This uptake is robust; according to Kongsberg Maritime, January 2025, in the article 'How Tow Assist tech supports precise delivery of major installations', the company secured a contract to supply integrated hybrid electrical systems for 10 new platform supply vessels intended for Brazilian operations.

The Shift Toward Remote-Enabled and Cloud-Connected DP Operations is altering the sector's operational architecture. This trend involves migrating control from vessel bridges to onshore Remote Operations Centers, facilitating the deployment of Unmanned Surface Vessels (USVs) that perform complex subsea tasks without onboard crew. By leveraging high-bandwidth connectivity, operators control vessels from safe onshore environments, reducing personnel risk and vessel size. This model is gaining commercial traction; according to Offshore Energy, January 2025, in the article 'Reach Subsea takes delivery of first Reach Remote USV', Reach Subsea took delivery of 'Reach Remote 1', its first 24-meter uncrewed surface vessel designed for fully remote operation.

Segmental Insights

Based on recent market intelligence, the Class 3 segment is recognized as the fastest-growing category within the Global Dynamic Positioning System Market. This expansion is primarily driven by increasing deep-water energy activities and the critical need for operational safety in harsh environments. Class 3 systems offer the highest level of redundancy, ensuring that vessels maintain station-keeping capabilities even after a complete compartment failure due to fire or flooding. Stringent guidelines from the International Maritime Organization (IMO) mandate these standards for high-risk assets, such as drillships and semi-submersibles, fueling the demand for this resilient equipment.

Regional Insights

North America commands the leading position in the Global Dynamic Positioning System Market, primarily due to extensive offshore energy operations in the Gulf of Mexico and increasing wind farm developments along the East Coast. This dominance is bolstered by strict maritime safety standards enforced by regulatory bodies such as the U.S. Coast Guard and the Bureau of Safety and Environmental Enforcement, which mandate precise station-keeping for deep-water vessels to mitigate environmental risks. Furthermore, substantial government investments in naval fleet modernization and defense capabilities continue to drive the regional adoption of high-reliability positioning technologies for complex maritime missions.

Recent Developments

• In December 2025, ABB successfully completed sea trials for its new Dynamic Positioning Class 2 control solution onboard a wind turbine installation vessel owned by DEME. The system, which integrated dynamic positioning, maneuvering, and transit functions into a single interface, was validated for its ability to enhance operational safety and decision-making. The trials demonstrated the solution's continuous control capabilities and its synergy with the vessel's propulsion units, eliminating the need for a standby mode. This development verified the system's compliance with industry performance standards and its readiness to support precise station-keeping in demanding offshore environments.
• In March 2025, Kongsberg Maritime received Approval in Principle from the American Bureau of Shipping for its Dynamic Positioning Digital Survey application. This digital tool was developed to continuously collect data from a vessel's control systems, enabling surveys to be conducted remotely instead of requiring scheduled in-person inspections. The approval marked a significant advancement in the digitalization of offshore asset verification, aimed at reducing vessel downtime and operational costs. The system allowed for data-driven verification of machinery and auxiliary systems, promoting a shift towards more efficient, remote monitoring strategies for dynamic positioning fleets.
• In February 2025, Kongsberg Maritime launched a digital solution named Tow Assist, which utilized dynamic positioning technology to coordinate multiple vessels during complex towing operations. The system was designed to improve situational awareness and safety by enabling a lead vessel to automatically command assisting tugs when maneuvering large floating structures. This innovation allowed unpowered assets, such as floating wind turbines, to function as dynamically positioned units during transport. The technology provided real-time graphical guidance to vessel captains, ensuring precise control and optimal resource allocation throughout the critical stages of towing and installation.
• In April 2024, Wärtsilä introduced a new high-performance thruster and propulsion control package designed to enhance the efficiency of offshore dynamic positioning operations. The solution integrated the company's embedded electric steerable thrusters and retractable thrusters with an updated remote propulsion control system. This configuration featured an eight-degree tilted propeller shaft to minimize interaction losses between thrusters and the hull, thereby increasing effective thrust by up to 20 percent compared to non-tilted alternatives. The technology was developed to meet the strict station-keeping standards required by offshore vessel operators while significantly reducing fuel consumption and emissions.

Key Market Players

• Kongsberg Gruppen ASA
• Wärtsilä Corporation
• Rolls-Royce Holdings plc
• ABB Ltd
• Aker Solutions ASA
• Hyundai Heavy Industries Co., Ltd.
• RelyOn Nutec AS
• MacGregor
• Furuno Electric Co., Ltd.
• Navis Engineering Pvt. Ltd.

By Sub-Systems	By Application	By Equipment Type	By Region
Power Systems DPS Control Systems Sensors Thruster Systems	Merchant Vessels Offshore Vessels Naval Vessels Passenger Ships	Class 1 Class 2 Class 3	North America Europe Asia Pacific South America Middle East & Africa

Report Scope:

In this report, the Global Dynamic Positioning System Market has been segmented into the following categories, in addition to the industry trends which have also been detailed below:

• Dynamic Positioning System Market, By Sub-Systems:

• Power Systems
• DPS Control Systems
• Sensors
• Thruster Systems

• Dynamic Positioning System Market, By Application:

• Merchant Vessels
• Offshore Vessels
• Naval Vessels
• Passenger Ships

• Dynamic Positioning System Market, By Equipment Type:

• Class 1
• Class 2
• Class 3

• Dynamic Positioning System Market, By Region:

• North America
• United States
• Canada
• Mexico
• Europe
• France
• United Kingdom
• Italy
• Germany
• Spain
• Asia Pacific
• China
• India
• Japan
• Australia
• South Korea
• South America
• Brazil
• Argentina
• Colombia
• Middle East & Africa
• South Africa
• Saudi Arabia
• UAE