Products
Encomara Secures ABS Approval for Floating Wind Installation Tech
Scottish floating wind technology developer Encomara has received Product Design Assessment (PDA) approval from the American Bureau of Shipping (ABS) for its Squid floating offshore wind installation system.
The PDA follows Approval in Principle (AiP) granted by ABS in November 2025 and represents the next stage in the qualification process for the system, which is designed to simplify the installation of floating offshore wind turbines as the company advances the technology toward commercial deployment.
Encomara's patented Squid technology integrates pre-installed mooring lines and electrical connections into a single subsea unit.
The system enables subsea infrastructure to be installed in advance, allowing floating wind turbines to be connected through a simplified ‘plug-and-play’ process.
According to modelling studies supported by Scottish Enterprise and offshore wind developers, the technology could reduce installation times by up to 50% compared with conventional methods, while increasing available weather windows for installation campaigns and supporting tow-to-port maintenance strategies.
Encomara estimates the approach could save developers up to $1.34 billion (£1 billion) per gigawatt of floating wind capacity.
The certification comes ahead of a series of onshore demonstrations scheduled for July at the Aurora Energy Services (AES) facility in Huntly, Scotland, followed by inshore testing and customer demonstrations at Ardersier in August.
GustoMSC Presents New Jacking Technology for Offshore Wind Vessels
GustoMSC, NOV’s offshore design and engineering business, has developed a new asymmetrical rack-and-pinion technology designed to increase the jacking capacity of offshore wind installation vessels without increasing vessel size, weight or system complexity.
The patent-pending asymmetrical rack-and-pinion (ASYM R&P) technology builds on the company’s existing rack-and-pinion jacking systems and is designed to improve load distribution within the existing system architecture, allowing more efficient use of structural capacity within the same vessel footprint.
The technology is aimed at addressing increasing installation demands as offshore wind turbines grow in size and projects move into deeper waters and more challenging operating environments.
According to GustoMSC, the design increases performance through an asymmetrical configuration integrated into its established rack-and-pinion jacking system and jack-up vessel designs, rather than relying on larger components or additional weight to increase capacity.
Apollo’s Floating Wind Quick Connector Nears Commercial Rollout
Apollo has received an Approval in Principle (Level 2) from Bureau Veritas for its PALM Quick Connection System (QCS), a technology designed to simplify the connection and disconnection of dynamic cables from floating offshore wind turbines.
The approval follows a 12-month full-scale front-end engineering and design (FEED) study funded by the Offshore Wind Growth Partnership and Wave Energy Scotland.
Apollo said the certification confirms that the PALM QCS has been independently assessed against industry standards and can now advance toward technical qualification and Type Approval.
The PALM QCS is designed to connect and disconnect dynamic cables without the need for specialist vessels, divers or personnel transfer. According to Apollo, the system has already completed 50 successful connection and disconnection operations during offshore field trials.
The company said the technology can reconnect dynamic cables in 5.5 hours, compared with marine operations that can take several days, and could deliver potential through-life savings of $161 million (£120 million) in a gigawatt-scale floating offshore wind farm.
Apollo said the system is intended to reduce offshore downtime, lower weather-related operational risks and improve safety by eliminating the need for personnel transfer during cable operations.
The technology was originally developed through a Wave Energy Scotland program and has since undergone offshore trials and adaptation for floating offshore wind applications.
Apollo plans additional subsea electrical trials in 2027 as part of a European Union Horizon project led by the European Marine Energy Centre (EMEC).
AlphaSight: Reservoir Mapping, Drilling Intelligence
Energy technology company SLB has launched AlphaSight, its latest innovation in reservoir mapping and drilling intelligence.
AlphaSight leverages industry-first technologies, setting a new benchmark for visibility and control in complex drilling environments to maximize production potential, the company said.
Designed to deliver clearer subsurface insight at significantly further depths, AlphaSight helps operators see and understand reservoir structures in real time - supporting confident drilling decisions without slowing performance.
According to SLB, AlphaSight has been field proven across the Middle East, North Sea, North America, and Asia, helping operators improve well placement, sharpen reservoir contact, and enhance overall drilling outcomes, driving stronger asset productivity across diverse reservoir environments.
By expanding petrophysical insight and accelerating geosteering decisions, AlphaSight supports faster, more accurate well delivery and advances the transition toward digital and autonomous drilling operations, the company claims.
Forum Energy Technology Streamlines LARS Portfolio with New Model
Forum Energy Technologies (FET) has unveiled its latest solution in subsea handling equipment, the Model 6000 (M6000) Launch and Recovery System (LARS).
Part of FET’s Dynacon product line, the M6000 provides a compact, all-in-one solution for inspection and light work-class ROV operations.
It integrates the A-frame, winch and hydraulic power unit into a single skid-mounted package, allowing for a single-point lift with no need for additional cabling or hose connections. This design streamlines mobilization and demobilization, reducing vessel interface time and onboard footprint.
Developed for deployment with inspection and small work-class ROVs such as FET’s Comanche and Super Mohawk, the system delivers optimal performance for inspection, maintenance and repair (IMR), cable lay, and pipeline or structural inspections. Applications are versatile, ranging from wind farms and dam surveys to pre-survey and light construction tasks.
Key features include a gimbal docking head with swing and sway functionality, a compact footprint and pre-wired, plug-and-play electrical integration. Together, these developments enhance safety and efficiency by minimizing setup time and maximizing reliability in the field.
The M6000’s design is DNV-certified and incorporates the latest hydraulic and control technologies. With a safe working load of up to 5,200kg and umbilical capacity of 3,300m, it provides robust handling performance within a reduced footprint.
The model was brought into production in 2025 following successful field deployment with a client earlier this year.
CORE POWER Evaluating Reactor Tech for Floating Nuclear Power Plants
CORE POWER has launched a feasibility study to evaluate the use of BWX Technologies' mPower small modular reactor (SMR) technology in floating nuclear power plants designed to be built in shipyards and deployed near energy demand centers.
The study will assess technical, regulatory and commercial pathways for integrating BWXT's mPower reactor design into floating nuclear facilities, the company said on Tuesday.
The mPower reactor was originally developed as a Generation III+ integral pressurized water small modular reactor with a generating capacity of 195 megawatts of electricity and 575 megawatts thermal per unit.
Floating nuclear power plants are intended to be constructed in shipyards and transported to locations where power demand is high or where conventional energy infrastructure faces constraints related to grid capacity, land availability or lengthy permitting processes.
The feasibility study will include systems engineering, marine integration studies, concept development, regulatory pathway assessments, product requirements definition and techno-economic analysis.
CORE POWER said the assessment would draw on its expertise in marine systems integration, shipyard delivery and deployment of maritime nuclear energy systems, alongside BWXT's reactor technology.
The study, funded by CORE POWER, is expected to guide future decisions regarding engineering development, regulatory engagement, commercial structures and potential next steps for floating nuclear power deployment.
Maersk’s Stillstrom Debuts Standalone Offshore Charging Solutions for Vessels
Stillstrom, a unit of A.P. Moller - Maersk, has launched two offshore charging systems aimed at supporting vessel electrification in the offshore wind sector.
The new solutions, Power Hub and Power Tower, are designed as standalone systems that can be deployed independently of wind turbine infrastructure, enabling flexible charging options for vessels operating at sea.
The systems are based on monopile designs and target one of the key challenges in offshore wind operations - the reliable supply of electric power for service vessels used in installation, maintenance and long-term operations.
Stillstrom said the systems expand its offshore charging portfolio, adding to solutions already integrated within wind farm assets.
The launch builds on the company’s research and development work, including patented offshore charging technologies, as wind farms expand further offshore and demand for low-emission vessel operations grows.
