A UK-based consortium led by Morek Engineering has revealed a new vessel concept aimed at supporting the installation of floating offshore wind farms, following the completion of its initial feasibility phase.
The proposed Future Floating Offshore Wind Installation Vessel (FFIV) has been designed with a focus on low-emission fuel systems, operational efficiency, and cost savings. The project is part of the Clean Maritime Demonstration Competition Round 4 (CMDC4), backed by the UK Department for Transport and delivered by Innovate UK, under the £206 million UK Shipping Office for Reducing Emissions programme.
Consortium members include Solis Marine Engineering, Tope Ocean, First Marine Solutions, and Celtic Sea Power. The design incorporates a hydrodynamically optimised hull, methanol-fuelled engines, and enhanced mooring capacity to support large-scale floating wind deployment.
“We assembled a team with deep market insight and offshore expertise, then overlaid that with a clear vision for low-emission fuel systems,” said Bob Colclough of Morek Engineering. “Our goal wasn’t simply to retrofit an existing design with greener propulsion, but to pinpoint where we could deliver the greatest carbon reductions in the construction of future floating wind farms.”
The FFIV is tailored to optimise a critical but underdeveloped part of the floating wind installation process—installing mooring systems for floating turbine foundations. The vessel is designed to handle all three key types of anchor systems currently under consideration in the industry: drag embedment anchors, suction piles, and driven piles. It would then install mooring lines, allowing for efficient connection to pre-towed floating foundations.
Simon Hindley of Solis Marine Engineering added, “We’ve reimagined the mooring installation process, designing a vessel focused on these new requirements. By combining an energy-efficient hull form with a low-emission powertrain, we can tackle high-duty construction tasks without relying on traditional, fossil fuel-powered vessels.”
The FFIV features azimuth thrusters for dynamic positioning and a below-deck cable tank to store synthetic mooring ropes, along with expanded chain lockers to accommodate the extensive mooring infrastructure required by floating wind farms.
Ian Godfrey of Tope Ocean said the design addresses a critical gap in the current global fleet. “At present, the global fleet falls far short of what is required for serialised installation of floating turbines and their infrastructure. This innovative concept is the kind of advanced technology innovation the Floating Offshore Wind sector needs to realise the global pipeline of projects and the clean energy they can deliver.”
Following a presentation to maritime industry stakeholders earlier this month, the consortium will now progress to the next design stage. This includes further work on synthetic rope handling equipment, weather-limit analysis, and addressing the regulatory and technical challenges associated with methanol propulsion.
The consortium aims to secure an Approval in Principle from a major classification society by December 2025.
