Engineering News

SBM Offshore and Petrobras have signed an agreement to study the application of carbon capture modules on floating production, storage, and offloading (FPSO) units.The module design is based on an engineering and design study between SBM Offshore and Mitsubishi Heavy Industries (MHI), qualified by DNV. It is based on a combination of MHI’s proprietary CO2 capture technology and SBM Offshore’s Fast4ward principles.This compact modular solution allows a significant reduction of the overall emissions associated with the production of oil and gas from FPSOs…

Kongsberg Maritime has unveiled a range of innovative methods designed to transform and industrialize the transportation and installation (T&I) of floating offshore wind turbines.The new solutions have been developed to streamline the entire process, from anchor and mooring installation through to electrical cable pull-in, ensuring that turbines are ready to be connected to energy grids, and offer a comprehensive solution for the floating offshore wind market.The solutions are…

Navantia UK, a subsidiary of Spanish shipbuilder Navantia, has completed the acquisition of Harland & Wolff’s facilities in Belfast, Appledore, Methil and Arnish.Under Navantia UK’s management, all four facilities will benefit from extensive expertise in shipbuilding, fabrication and complex program management, supporting both a highly skilled workforce and robust supply chain.The transaction ensures the continuation of the Fleet Solid Support (FSS) program, comprising three ships…

The Bureau of Ocean Energy Management (BOEM) today announced its approval of the Construction and Operations Plan for the SouthCoast Wind Project. This is the final approval needed for the project from BOEM following the Department of the Interior’s December 2024 Record of Decision. “We are proud to announce BOEM’s final approval of the SouthCoast Wind project, the nation’s eleventh commercial-scale offshore wind energy project, which will power more than 840,000 homes,” said BOEM Director Elizabeth Klein. "...

American Bureau of Shipping (ABS) has awarded Hanwha Ocean an Approval in Principle (AIP) for its Pre-FEED standard FPSO design intended to create an asset optimized for deployment in the deep waters of West Africa.The FPSO design is 340 meters long and capable of storing approximately 2.38 million barrels of crude oil, with a daily crude oil production capacity of 190,000 barrels.Developed to accommodate topsides for crude oil and or gas production facilities, the hull is designed…

Tugdock has reached a significant milestone as its Tugdock Submersible Platform (TSP) is awarded the prestigious ‘Statement of Feasibility’ from DNV, the world’s leading  independent energy expert and assurance provider.This endorsement recognizes the TSP as a transformative technology with applications across multiple markets, including floating offshore wind, vessel drydocking and decommissioning.The TSP is a pinned, open steel-frame that uses the company’s patented vertical air buoyancy cylinders.

Shipbuilder Hanwha Ocean has secured an Approval in Principle (AiP) from certification body Bureau Veritas for its standard Floating Production Storage and Offloading Unit (FPSO) design, which includes the latest developments in advanced digital solutions to support more energy efficient operations.Standard FPSO design of Hanwha Ocean measures 340 meters in length and 62 meters in width, with a crude oil storage capacity of 2.38 million barrels and a production capacity of 190…

ABL Group has entered into an agreement to acquire Brazil-based naval architecture and engineering consultancy Proper Marine, increasing its expertise in floating production storage and offloading (FPSO) sector.Proper Marine will be merged with ABL’s design and engineering arm Longitude.The company will expand ABL’s design and engineering capabilities with a team of over 90 professionals and a track-record of more than 1,600 projects.The acquisition will strengthen ABL Group’s offering in both Brazil and the wider Americas within vessel design and conversion…

Advanced boat-handling systems supplied by Vestdavit have been installed on the newbuild CSOV Olympic Notos delivered for Olympic by Norway’s Ulstein Verft, which is raising the bar in terms of sustainability and operational efficiency for such vessels employed in the offshore energy sector.The leading Norwegian supplier provided a total package of five davits for the vessel including two H-9001 davits - one dedicated lifeboat davit and the other a combination of MOB (man overboard) and lifeboat davit.

US-based engineering company Advanced Mechanical Enterprises (AME) has renewed its partnership with Fluke Reliability and Pruftechnik Group and is their official sales representative for Florida, Georgia, North and South Carolina under the leadership of Jorge Garcia.Pruftechnik offers precision alignment and condition monitoring technology, and Fluke, known for its diagnostic tools, aligns with AME’s experience in condition-based maintenance and alignment."We're excited to reignite our partnership with Fluke Reliability and Pruftechnik Group," said Rich Merhige, President of AME.

Driven by a “massive step change in offshore wind turbine technology” premised on growth of the per unit size and output, Menck – an Acteon brand – last month unveiled what it touts as a “game-changing” MHU 6000W Wind Hammer, the largest hammer in its repertoire and a continuing a legacy of innovation since 1868 from this north Germany industrial company.We recently visited with Fabian Hippe, Marine Foundations Sales Director, Acteon, for a discussion on the new pile driving unit and the markets it will serve.

Houston-based offshore engineering firm Friede & Goldman (F&G) announced it has completed model testing for its BargeRack offshore wind feeder solution at the MARIN maritime research institute in the Netherlands, bringing F&G closer to commercializing the technology.The BargeRack, a modular solution that enables wind turbine installation vessels (WTIV) to lift feeder barges for lifting offshore wind compoenents in compliance with the U.S. Jones Act, underwent rigorous testing in wave heights up to 2.5 meters.

A group of industry specialist companies has achieved a world first for the wind industry, with a major component exchange (MCE) being performed on an offshore floating wind turbine while it remained on site at the Scottish Kincardine offshore wind farm, located south east of Aberdeen.The new, more cost-effective, process was delivered through a collaboration of technologies and expertise from LiftOff, Vestas, Dragados, Kincardine Offshore Windfarm Limited (KOWL) and Cobra Wind…

Subsea7 in August announced it was awarded a "sizable" contract, worth between $50 million and $150 million, to perform engineering, procurement, construction, and offshore installation (EPCI) work in the U.S. Gulf of Mexico.The company revealed on social media that the contract was awarded by Shell Offshore Inc., for its Vito waterflood project. Subsea7's work scope includes EPCI of a water injection flowline, hull piping, and associated subsea infrastructure for an enhanced…

The Biden administration on Monday issued an offshore wind lease to the state of Maine for a small project that will demonstrate floating turbine technology off the U.S. East Coast.The lease area covers 9,700 acres (3,920 hectares) and is 28 nautical miles (52 kilometers) from shore, an area that could accommodate up to 12 floating offshore wind turbines that could generate about 144 megawatts of electricity.Floating wind is widely acknowleded as the future of offshore wind, as it is able to tap stronger winds further from shore.

Subsea7 today announced the award of a sizeable contract in the US Gulf of Mexico worth between $50 million and $150 million.The scope of work includes engineering, procurement, construction, and offshore installation of a water injection flowline, hull piping and associated subsea infrastructure.Project management and engineering work will start immediately at Subsea7’s office in Houston, Texas, and offshore activity is expected to begin in 2026.The news follows the July award…

Classification society ABS announced it has awarded approval in principle (AIP) to Houston-based CLS Wind for its innovative wind turbine assembly system.The patented elevator style assembly system promises easier, safer and faster wind turbine and nacelle installation and maintenance, without the use of large cranes and heavy-lift barges or vessels.ABS said it completed design reviews based on class and statutory requirements.“This is an exciting milestone for CLS Wind and domestic renewable energy production. ABS is committed to supporting the U.S.

Singaporean rig- and shipbuilder Seatrium has tapped the American Bureau of Shipping (ABS) to class a pair of floating production storage and offloading units (FPSO) being built for Brazil's state-owned Petrobras, the classification society announced. Slated for delivery in 2029, the FPSOs P-84 and P-85 will be deployed in the Atapu and Sépia fields, located in the eastern part of the Santos Basin, approximately 200 kilometers offshore of Rio de Janeiro in Brazil. Each have a production capacity of 225…

Denmark-based A.P. Moller - Maersk has launched a dedicated division to provide installation services to the growing offshore wind industry.Maersk Offshore Wind has been formed as a spin off from Maersk Supply Service (MSS), which was acquired by Norwegian offshore supply vessel company DOF Group in a $1.11 billion in a cash and stock deal.The newly formed company is owned by A.P. Moller Holding and currently has approximately 40 employees. It will market the Wind Installation Vessel (Maersk WIV) concept, developed by MSS.

Examining similarities and differences between the deepwater oil & gas and the emerging floating wind segment.There has been much excitement around the potential for the offshore wind industry to access deeper water sites through the deployment of floating wind technology.Further, there has been much discussion around the development and deployment of disruptive technologies to leverage the opportunity of floating wind. However, in the short- to medium-term, there is insufficient…

Dutch company Huisman has secured its first contract from Coastal International Marine, part of Malaysia-based oil and gas services company Coastal Contracts, for the supply of deepwater Knuckle Boom Crane.The Knuckle Boom Crane has a lifting capacity of 100 mt and features a deepwater winch and active heave compensation.Huisman recently introduced its optimised KBC series, designed specifically for the offshore subsea construction market.The optimised models align with the latest trends in offshore construction vessels…

Brunvoll has signed a contract with Myklebust Verft shipyard for the delivery of a thruster package to REM Offshore’s new energy subsea construction vessel (ESCV).The contract is for one vessel with an additional vessel as an option.Brunvoll will deliver a thruster package consisting of two propulsion azimuth thrusters, two retractable azimuth thrusters, and a tunnel thruster.One of the retractable azimuth thrusters is a newly developed and more compact version of Brunvoll’s traditional azimuth combi thrusters…

Foundation installation work has commenced for the second phase of what will become the world’s largest offshore wind farm, Dogger Bank, in the U.K. North Sea.Seaway7’s vessels Seaway Strashnov and Seaway Alfa Lift have commenced installation of monopile foundations and transition pieces for the Dogger Bank B phase of the offshore wind farm project. The team recently completed installation of all 95 transition pieces on Dogger Bank A, thus concluding the installation of the foundations for the first phase of the project.Olly Cass…