ABS Approves CLS Wind’s Offshore Wind Installation Technology

July 23, 2024, by Adnan Memija

The American Bureau of Shipping (ABS) has issued an Approval in Principle (AiP) to CLS Wind for its wind turbine assembly system.

The patented elevator-style assembly is said to promise easier, safer, and faster wind turbine and nacelle installation and maintenance, without the use of large cranes and heavy-lift barges or vessels.

CLS Wind ABS — Photo Caption 2: Rendering of the elevator style wind turbine assembly system from CLS Wind; Courtesy of CLS Wind

ABS completed design reviews on class and statutory requirements, according to the classification society.

“As an American company working on a unique solution to solve some of the pressing issues that are affecting the offshore wind market, we appreciate ABS’ support for the AIP process and visit to our industrial demo unit,” said Kent A. Johnson, CEO of CLS Wind.

“In the renewable energy market, it is important that we work together to find solutions that lower the cost and increase installation efficiencies to support offshore wind energy production, and we are delighted to be working with ABS in these technologies.”

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In terms of other recent news coming from ABS, the society signed an agreement with FibreMax last month to collaborate on stiffness-driven mooring tendons for the floating offshore wind market.

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).