Acteon’s Rocksteady Tension Tool (RSTT) Chosen by InnovateUK iX for Offshore Wind Innovation

Acteon’s Rocksteady Tension Tool (RSTT) has been handpicked by InnovateUK iX, a UK initiative aimed at expediting knowledge transfer and fostering innovation in the offshore wind sector. The RSTT is a revolutionary in-line winch and connection system specifically designed to streamline the mid-line hookup of mooring lines at final tension, thereby optimizing the hookup and disconnection processes between mooring systems and floating offshore wind turbines.

The RSTT is anticipated to bring about a substantial decrease in capital expenditure and installation costs by doing away with the necessity for fairleads, tensioners, and chains. Additionally, it reduces vessel size requirements and employs a reusable subsea winch system that minimizes rigging operations for each new mooring installation. The RSTT works in conjunction with the Rocksteady connector, a tried-and-tested subsea quick connector capable of triggering release under load, with successful tests conducted up to 1,000 tons.

Acteon asserts that the RSTT not only enhances safety but also diminishes risk during installation and throughout the lifecycle by eliminating platform-adjacent operations, circumventing personnel transfer, steering clear of seabed operations with poor visibility, and eliminating the need for subsea chain cutting. This, in turn, reduces the risk of line abrasion or tangling.

Acteon will be collaborating with the Offshore Renewable Energy (ORE) Catapult, a supporter of the InnovateUK iX program, as well as floating offshore wind developer Flotation Energy to propel the RSTT towards commercial and technical readiness. The technology has already undergone concept feasibility engineering, encompassing sizing calculations and static installation analysis. The subsequent phases, including small- and large-scale testing, will be supported by the InnovateUK iX program.

Jack Paterson, Team Leader at Floating Offshore Wind at ORE Catapult, expressed, “As part of our mission to foster the growth and expansion of the UK supply chain within the offshore wind sector, we are dedicated to aiding the development and de-risking of new technologies. Tools like the RSTT are exemplary of the technological advancements that are imperative for the UK supply chain to offer viable solutions to industry challenges.”