The American Bureau of Shipping (ABS) has issued an Approval in Principle (AiP) to Bouygues Travaux Publics for its OO-STAR concrete semi-submersible floater.
This milestone allows the platform to support wind turbines exceeding 20MW in demanding offshore environments, marking a significant step for Bouygues as it seeks to enter the U.S. floating wind market as an engineering, procurement, construction, and installation (EPCI) contractor.
The OO-STAR floater, equipped with a mooring system, has been developed to withstand the wind and ocean conditions specific to the North Sea and can accommodate turbines larger than 20MW.
According to the company, the design integrates constructability and installation constraints, reflecting Bouygues Travaux Publics' engineering approach.
The AiP validates that the design meets ABS's rules and safety standards. “The AiP issued by ABS is significant for us as it marks the first step in certifying a credible design, fit for construction and industrialisation,” said Bertrand Burtschell, CEO of Bouygues Travaux Publics. He emphasized the company's goal of creating cost-efficient production lines, drawing on its experience at the Fécamp wind farm.
Bouygues Travaux Publics now aims to further advance project certification, potentially through the deployment of a full-scale prototype or a pre-commercial project.
The approval reinforces the company's readiness to address global demand for cost-effective floating wind turbines, with an emphasis on sustainable offshore wind energy solutions.
