UK Invests In First Low-carbon Installation Vessels For Floating Offshore Wind Market

The UK government has reportedly awarded significant funding to a consortium headed by Morek Engineering to design a unique class of new low-carbon installation vessels for the larger floating offshore wind market. This consortium, which includes Solis Marine Engineering, Morek Engineering, First Marine Solutions, Celtic Sea Power, and Tope Ocean, won the funding via the Clean Maritime Demonstration Competition of the UK Government.

The outline vessel design will be ready for engagement with classification societies to get approval in principle by the beginning of 2025. This is expected to be a first-in-class and low-carbon vessel specifically designed to satisfy the complex installation needs of floating offshore wind farm foundations and moorings.

The project aims to align the detailed needs of the emerging Floating Wind domain with the objectives associated with the UK maritime decarbonization goal. Floating offshore wind needs a cost-effective solution to deliver the serialized installation of ample moorings and floating foundation systems while lowering carbon emissions during the construction and maintenance of next-gen wind farms.

Morek Engineering will develop the forthcoming generation of offshore wind construction vessels to meet the challenges head-on, declared Bob Colclough, the MD of Morek Engineering. Per Ian Godfrey, the MD of Tope Ocean, the assignment will entail detailed feasibility research into the needs of the upcoming floating offshore wind sector for a new class of low-carbon installation vessels.

Godfrey indicated that the vessel will be designed to carry out complex and high-energy construction assignments within duty cycle constraints of future low- and zero-carbon fuel systems.

The most recent round of the Clean Maritime Demonstration Competition is now a part of the UK Shipping Office for Reducing Emissions (abbreviated UK SHORE) program. This $260 million initiative focuses on developing the technology crucial to decarbonize the UK’s domestic maritime domain.

Reference: Splash and Marine Link

UK Invests In First Low-carbon Installation Vessels For Floating Offshore Wind Market appeared first on Marine Insight – The Maritime Industry Guide

Source: Maritime Shipping News