A New Vessel Concept Unveiled for the Floating Offshore Wind Market

A consortium led by Morek Engineering has recently revealed its design concept for a groundbreaking vessel class tailored for the floating offshore wind (FLOW) market. This unveiling comes after successfully completing the first feasibility stage of the project.

Joining forces with Morek Engineering in this innovative endeavor are esteemed partners including Solis Marine Engineering, Tope Ocean, First Marine Solutions, and Celtic Sea Power. Together, they aim to revolutionize the maritime sector with a focus on sustainability and efficiency.

The Clean Maritime Demonstration Competition

This project is part of the Clean Maritime Demonstration Competition Round 4, a government-backed initiative funded by the UK Department for Transport and delivered by Innovate UK. With a budget of £206 million ($276 million), the competition is dedicated to developing technologies essential for decarbonizing the maritime industry.

The Future FLOW Installation Vessel (FFIV) Design

The FFIV design incorporates cutting-edge features such as low-carbon fuels for enhanced fuel efficiency, a hydrodynamically optimized hull, and expanded mooring capacity. These advancements are projected to result in significant time and cost savings compared to existing vessels in operation.

The vessel concept focuses on streamlining a crucial aspect of the floating wind installation process that has yet to be fully optimized. It is designed to work seamlessly with various anchor types, accommodating the industry’s evolving needs and preferences.

Advancing Toward the Next Design Stage

The consortium is now moving forward to the next design stage, where they will delve into refining the equipment for handling synthetic ropes, conducting weather-limit analyses, and addressing regulatory and design challenges related to methanol propulsion systems. Their goal is to secure approval in principle from a major ship classification society by December 2025.

“This innovative concept is precisely the kind of advanced technology innovation that the floating offshore wind sector needs to meet the demands of the global project pipeline,” remarked Ian Godfrey of Tope Ocean.