Through the MoU, the companies agree to jointly explore developing optimized mooring solutions using Applied Fiber’s socketed termination technology for fiber ropes and Acteon’s vast mooring experience. Another area of joint work will be the field of real-time condition monitoring of mooring lines. Both MoU partners will jointly develop concepts for exporting real-time condition monitoring data directly from the mooring lines for integration into digital twin models to reduce the risk of mooring line failure.
The benefits of an alliance between InterMoor and Applied Fiber include:
- Reliability: Applied Fiber’s certified termination process significantly reduces the variability inherent in manual splicing without compromising performance. This process delivers a highly configurable termination with consistency, scalability, and reliability worldwide.
- Weight reduction: By eliminating bulky connectors between chain and rope, the Applied Fiber solution fits InterMoor’s mission to deliver low-impact mooring systems. The mooring system becomes lighter, reducing installation time, cost, and risk while also lowering carbon emissions.
- Industrialization: The semi-automated process provides an industrialized solution for the direct connection of ropes in floating offshore wind mooring systems. It eliminates splicing bottlenecks and human error in the supply chain.
- Real-time monitoring: With sensors built into the terminations, the solution offers data on mooring line conditions, facilitating easier and remote monitoring. With InterMoor’s expertise in analyzing and interpreting mooring line data, the team can turn data into valuable insights into mooring line condition, providing a valuable tool as part of the lifetime system management.
Tom Fulton, Head of Renewables and Mooring Development at Acteon, says: “Teaming up with Applied Fiber is a sensible step which will allow us to deliver an even more standardized and intelligent rope-based mooring solution, a crucial element, especially in the context of large permanent systems for floating wind farms.”
Richard Campbell, CEO at Applied Fiber, adds: “This is an incredible opportunity for both companies, each a leader in their respective fields. Our complementary technologies, including Acteon’s extensive operational knowledge, will undoubtedly lead to new solutions for an emerging market with very different requirements.”
