ABS and FibreMax have signed a pioneering agreement to collaborate on stiffness-driven mooring tendons for the offshore wind market. The collaboration, which is principally focused on floating offshore wind assets, will see ABS provide qualification of the Dutch manufacturer’s fibre and small rope testing.
ABS will evaluate test methods for accuracy in predicting the parameters needed to perform representative analysis, focusing on stiffness. FibreMax will provide expertise on stiffness, based on its patented Parallel Wound Technology (PWT).
‘We are committed to safety excellence and to advancing safety standards across the offshore wind industry for new technologies,’ says Robert Langford, ABS vice president, Global Offshore Wind.
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Sander van Helvoort, director Renewable Energy at FibreMax, adds: ‘We are excited to work together with ABS, given their impressive track record in floating offshore wind. Together with ABS, we will work to include operational parameters for stiffness-driven designs with the objective to jointly develop relevant parameters for these emerging designs and market.’
ABS certified the first US offshore wind project in Orsted’s Block Island. Worldwide, ABS certified the first semi-submersible floating offshore wind turbine, WindFloat I, classed the world’s largest floating wind turbine at the time of installation with Windfloat Atlantic developed and operated by Ocean Winds, classed Kincardine, the world’s largest grid-connected floating offshore wind farm, and performed statutory reviews on behalf of International Registries Inc. (IRI) for Kincardine.
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Strongest cables in the world
To create the strongest cable in the world, FibreMax invented the Endless Winding Robot. This robot is not only unique, but also patented, with more than sixteen associated world patents. To ensure no splicing, glueing or braiding, the Endless Winding Robot winds the fibre strands in parallel lines around custom-made end terminations. In 2020, FibreMax officially broke the world record for the strongest aramid cable worldwide.
The endlessly wound cables with incorporated end terminations are designed to tackle metal fatigue and withstand the harshest conditions, making them perfect for mining, braiding, aerospace, and underwater applications.
Photo: Tendon mooring lines that support floating offshore wind (courtesy of FibreMax).
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