Crowley Wind Services, a supply chain solutions company specializing in the offshore wind industry, has made a significant investment in Tugdock, a leading UK-based player known for their groundbreaking transportable floating dry dock called the Tugdock Submersible Platform (TSP).
The partnership between Crowley and Tugdock aims to explore the potential use of TSPs in locations like the US west coast, where traditional dry docks and shallow depths pose logistical challenges for wind energy projects.
Bob Karl, Senior Vice President and General Manager of Crowley, emphasized the strategic value of this investment, stating, “This important investment and collaboration with Tugdock strategically complement our vision and market-leading logistics capabilities to support wind energy development from beginning to end. By working together with our customers, suppliers, policymakers, and others, we aim to further the use of offshore wind as a leading alternative energy source, leveraging innovative solutions like the Tugdock Submersible Platform.”
Crowley is actively involved in the development and planning of wind terminals in California, Louisiana, and Massachusetts. For instance, they are progressing on an agreement to build and operate a terminal at the California Port of Humboldt Bay, which will facilitate the manufacturing, installation, and operation of offshore wind floating platforms, as well as provide crewing and marshalling services for the newly approved Pacific waters designated for wind energy leases. Projects on the West Coast, including Humboldt, will rely on floating offshore wind turbines.
Shane Carr, CEO of Tugdock, expressed his delight in partnering with Crowley, a company renowned for its visionary approach to marine innovation. Carr believes that Crowley's strategic investment will pave the way for Tugdock's unique technology to enter the US floating offshore wind market, thereby accelerating its growth.
Tugdock's TSP technology, which has received awards and patents, offers a cost-effective solution for developers and ports in the floating offshore wind industry. The TSPs were specifically designed to overcome the limitations of ports with insufficient water depth and assembly space for constructing and loading the large floating substructures required to support offshore wind turbines. The innovative technology allows modular floating dry docks to be transported by road and assembled at the port, with dimensions exceeding those of most existing dry docks worldwide. Once loaded, the platform is towed to deeper water for launching and transporting the turbines.
Lucas Lowe-Houghton, Director of Strategy and Growth at Tugdock, highlighted the key challenges faced by the floating offshore wind sector, including the costs and time constraints associated with port infrastructure development and the suitability of submersible barges. Lowe-Houghton explained that Tugdock's TSP technology effectively addresses these bottlenecks by providing a ready-to-go solution that eliminates the need for complex planning and environmental permissions. This flexibility is particularly advantageous, as seeking planning permission for a permanent facility could significantly delay project schedules and hinder return on investment. Tugdock's platform offers a purpose-built, permanent or temporary pre-assembly solution for construction, loadout, wind turbine generator integrations, and major repair campaigns.
