The UK Government has confirmed funding for a consortium managed by Morek Engineering to create a new series of low-carbon installation vessels for the floating offshore wind sector.

Morek Engineering, Solis Marine Engineering, Tope Ocean, First Marine Solutions and Celtic Sea Power have secured approval for additional funding within the UK Government’s Clean Maritime Demonstration Competition. The group’s established reputation in innovative vessel design and the delivery of complex offshore operations strengthened the approval.

Bob Colclough, MD of Morek Engineering, explains that this operation will be a first-in-class low-carbon vessel designed to meet the challenging installation requirements in floating offshore wind moorings and foundations.

The project intends to facilitate the requirements of the floating wind industry with the plans of the UK maritime decarbonisation agenda. As we progress into the next stage of offshore wind development, applying floating structures utilising deeper locations and accessing stronger winds will require mooring floating foundations to support large-scale offshore wind turbines.

The consortium believes the existing offshore service fleet has a limited capability and capacity. To achieve our ambitious net zero targets, the offshore construction industry will require a serial production level, which is significant in offshore industries.

Floating offshore wind requires a cost-effective solution to meet the rising installation of large moorings and floating structures while reducing carbon emissions within the construction and maintenance phases of future wind farms. The consortium plans to develop the next gen of offshore wind vessels, tackling the existing industry challenges.

The project is part of the Clean Maritime Demonstration Competition Round 4 (CMDC4), supported by the UK Department for Transport and delivered by Innovate UK. Ian Godfrey, the MD of Tope Ocean, emphasises the scale of the decarbonisation challenge by explaining that the emissions from offshore wind farms and maintenance vessels generate over 3% of domestic shipping emissions in the UK in 2022. With targets to increase the UK offshore wind capacity from 14GW to 50GW by 2050, this percentage share could rise to more than 10% when applying a business-as-usual fossil fuel-focused scenario. As a consequence, it is critical to implement a new approach to offshore vessels and engage with the clean maritime and net zero objectives.

Godfrey explains that they will perform a comprehensive feasibility study into the requirements of the floating offshore wind industry for a new phase of low-carbon installation vessels. The new vessel will be capable of delivering complex and intensive construction tasks and create a new standard for environmental performance combined with the construction and maintenance of floating offshore wind and the broader marine transportation industry.

Bob Colcough highlights that they intend to be incorporated into the national shipbuilding strategy, solidifying the position to deliver net zero in 2050. The new vessel will help support the growth of the floating offshore worldwide, providing low-carbon installation and maintenance solutions.

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