A pioneering floating offshore wind project led by Morek Engineering and funded by the UK Government's Clean Maritime Demonstration Competition has been launched, utilizing JBA Consulting's ForeCoast® Marine software. Aimed at designing low-carbon installation vessels specifically for floating offshore wind farms, this initiative targets the need for advanced offshore service fleets capable of operating in deeper waters and stronger winds.
ForeCoast® Marine will play a crucial role in simulating and optimizing vessel designs under varied environmental conditions to ensure they function efficiently on clean fuels. This involves assessing performance metrics such as carbon emissions, operational costs, and logistical efficiency.
Nick Law, Technical Director at JBA Consulting, emphasized the software's capability in managing complex marine operations. Bob Colclough, Managing Director of Morek Engineering, highlighted its potential in achieving efficiency and emission reductions. Final approval for the vessel design is expected by early 2025.
Concurrently, spatial overlap issues are being faced in the Southern North Sea (SNS) and East Irish Sea (EIS) where 31 offshore wind projects intersect with carbon storage and oil & gas (O&G) licenses. This includes operational wind farms and those still in the planning phases, such as Dogger Bank South and Norfolk Boreas wind farm.
Past overlaps have led to disputes, such as the case between BP's Northern Endurance carbon capture project and Ørsted’s Hornsea Project Four wind farm, which resulted in a five-month delay. Effective marine spatial planning and regulatory measures are necessary to mitigate such conflicts and promote collaboration among developers to enhance operational efficiency and reduce emissions.