ABS, FibreMax Enter Collaboration on Floating Wind Mooring Tech

June 28, 2024, by Adrijana Buljan

The US-based classification organisation American Bureau of Shipping (ABS) and Dutch synthetic mooring solutions provider FibreMax have signed an agreement to collaborate on stiffness-driven mooring tendons for the floating offshore wind market.

A photo of FibreMax's tendon mooring lines that support Floating Offshore Wind — Tendon mooring lines for floating wind; Photo courtesy of FibreMax

Under the agreement, ABS will provide qualification for FibreMax’s fibre and small rope testing. The classification organisation will evaluate test methods for accuracy in predicting the parameters needed to perform representative analysis, focusing on stiffness.

FibreMax’s part of the agreement will see the mooring solutions specialist provide expertise on stiffness, based on the company’s Parallel Wound Technology (PWT).

“We are excited to work together with ABS, given their impressive track record in floating offshore wind. Together with ABS, we will work to include operational parameters for stiffness-driven designs with the objective to jointly develop relevant parameters for these emerging designs and market,” said Sander van Helvoort, Director Renewable Energy at FibreMax.

ABS has performed certification and classification for several floating wind projects and technologies, including WindFloat 1, the first semisubmersible floating offshore wind turbine, and turbines at the WindFloat Atlantic floating wind farm off Portugal, and has classed and performed statutory reviews for Kincardine, the world’s largest grid-connected floating offshore wind farm, located in Scotland.

Earlier this year, FibreMax signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) with RWE to advance the development and support of synthetic mooring technology for floating wind.

Under the MOU, RWE and FibreMax will work together on research and development, as well as the exploration of innovative methods to further reduce the cost of mooring solutions for (ultra) deep water and local production opportunities.