Kongsberg Maritime advances offshore floater installation with simplified mooring systems
Written by Nick Blenkey
Photo:@Kongsberg Maritime
Kongsberg Maritime reports that it has reached the next stage in its efforts to advance the mooring of offshore floating structures through the development of simplified mooring solutions. Building on its patent-pending integrated tensioning and remote pull-in technologies, the company is now focused on reducing cost, complexity, and environmental impact across the mooring system lifecycle.
While these innovations support the company’s strategy in support of the industrialization of the floating offshore wind sector, these innovative methods are fully applicable to other offshore sectors, including oil and gas. The company continues to collaborate with industry partners and vessel designers to future-proof fleets – equipping them to take on high-volume offshore installation demands.
The latest developments center on minimizing mooring components and enabling future layouts that avoid active tensioning equipment in permanent systems. The solution provides a controlled, vessel-based connection method that compensates relative motions between the floater and vessel. Mooring lines can be safely installed within an expanded weather window, utilizing tensioners such as vessel tensioners or pull-in tensioners/connectors. This simplifies installation, eliminates top chain segments, and supports efficient connection and disconnection.
A key benefit is the removal of winches and the need for floater-based personnel, cutting topside weight, reducing maintenance demands, and improving safety. Kongsberg Maritime is also refining its tensioner technology to deliver precise, reliable mooring line tensioning.
When combined with the company’s cross-tensioning method, high loads can be applied to remove construction stretch in fiber ropes without relying on bollard pull. This reduces propulsion use and engine power demand.
Quantified fuel savings are pending, but dependent on the specific mooring system, are calculated to be in the range of 70-80% for tensioning operations, due to reduced propulsion and engine power use.
“Our goal is to streamline offshore floater installations by simplifying every step of the process,” said Arild Ånensen, program manager – offshore energy at Kogsberg Maritime, “By reducing components and introducing smarter connection and tensioning methods, we’re helping operators cut costs while improving safety and reliability.”
While these innovations support Kongsberg Maritime’s strategy to support the industrialization of the floating offshore wind sector, these innovative methods are fully applicable to other offshore sectors, including oil and gas. The company continues to collaborate with industry partners and vessel designers to future-proof fleets – equipping them to take on high-volume offshore installation demands.
