The American Bureau of Shipping (ABS) and Dutch company FibreMax have joined forces to collaborate on innovative stiffness-driven mooring tendons for the floating offshore wind market. ABS will be responsible for qualifying FibreMax’s fiber and small rope testing, while also evaluating test methods to accurately predict the necessary parameters for representative analysis, with a specific focus on stiffness. In return, FibreMax will leverage its expertise in stiffness, utilizing its patented Parallel Wound Technology (PWT) to enhance the project.
ABS brings a wealth of experience in verification within the marine and offshore industries, making them the perfect partner for this cutting-edge initiative. Emphasizing their dedication to safety excellence and advancing standards in the offshore wind sector, ABS Vice President, Global Offshore Wind, Robert Langford, expresses confidence in the collaboration. Meanwhile, Sander van Helvoort, Director Renewable Energy at FibreMax, highlights the excitement of working with ABS and leveraging their strong background in floating offshore wind projects to incorporate operational parameters for stiffness-driven designs, ultimately developing crucial parameters for the emerging market.
With ABS having certified notable projects like Orsted’s Block Island and WindFloat I, the world’s largest floating wind turbine at the time of installation, and being involved in the statutory reviews for major undertakings, including the world’s largest grid-connected floating offshore wind farm Kincardine, this collaboration with FibreMax represents a significant step towards fostering innovation and safety in the floating offshore wind industry. Together, these two companies strive to push the boundaries of current technology and set new standards for future developments in the renewable energy sector.
