Large vessel challenge

Led by Falmouth Harbour Commissioners in the UK, the project involves a modular system with numerous relatively lightweight components enables installation, maintenance and decommissioning operations at low cost.

Local research an innovation body Marine-i has announced its support for the pioneering new mooring system. Such a system would help to increase the operating capacity in the harbour, without the need for large-scale infrastructure development, it says.

Two previous stages of research have identified a solution, which is an eight-legged mooring system with multiple gravity and drag anchors. The next stage will be the building and testing of a prototype. If these results are positive, full scale trials of a complete modular mooring system will take place, followed by certification and commercialisation.

Miles Carden, chief executive of Falmouth Harbour Commissioners, said: “This project is breaking completely new ground for mooring systems, so having access to the world-class research expertise available from the Marine-i partners has been critical in progressing the modelling of the new design. If successful, the impact of this new mooring system on Falmouth Harbour operations would be felt for many years to come. We are now awaiting progress with Floating Offshore wind project developers prior to committing further, as a partnering approach would be preferred, but the evidence we have to date will be incredibly useful as these exciting proposals progress.”