ABS FEED Approval Allows ECO TLP® to Begin Project Testing
ABS recently announced that it has approved the Front-End Engineering Design (FEED) documents for a deep water floating offshore wind platform design from ECO TLP, Inc. and MOCEAN-Offshore BV.
ABS, a leading global provider of classification and technical advisory services to the marine and offshore industries, is committed to setting standards for safety and excellence in design and construction. Focused on safe and practical application of advanced technologies and digital solutions, ABS works with clients to develop accurate and cost-effective compliance, optimized performance and operational efficiency for marine and offshore assets.
The unique design supports the largest wind turbines on the market and utilizes slip-formed cylindrical concrete hulls and a variety of anchor types. When combined with a hybrid spar tension-leg mooring system, the unit has a smaller footprint than traditional floaters using catenary mooring. ABS completed design reviews based on class and supporting offshore standards.
“In many parts of the world, floating offshore wind power will be important for the overall energy mix by expanding the reach of renewable electricity generation to waters that are too deep for fixed-bottom projects. ABS is proud to work with innovative companies like ECO TLP Inc. who are designing structures that address and solve challenges related to renewable energy manufacture, installation and costs,” said Rob Langford, ABS Vice President, Global Offshore Renewables.
“ABS approval for non-site-specific FEED for a wide range of water depths and wind turbines sizes allows ECO TLP® to significantly reduce the certification process for commercial projects. Achieving this is an important milestone for our solution, allowing us to operate in the water safely and qualify for financial and insurance terms. We are proud to offer an economical, versatile, ecologically friendly platform that optimizes the wind turbine performance, substantially lowering operational and maintenance costs of the array over its lifetime,” said Nicole Johnson Murphy, CEO, ECO TLP Inc.
Supporting ECO TLP’s marine, civil and structural engineering needs are MOCEAN-Offshore BV and Arup International Projects Ltd.
“Achieving ABS approval is a recognition to the effort and dedication of Mocean’s engineering team over the past few years. We take great pride in working with the ECO TLP team as its lead engineering partner and look forward to contributing our expertise as we advance this design from concept to construction,” said Jort Braun, General Manager at Mocean Offshore.
“Arup are delighted to have supported ECO TLP in reaching this milestone towards realizing an innovative design that supports the low carbon energy transition,” said Chris Jackson, Project Manager, Arup International Projects Ltd.
With FEED documents approved, the design moves into commercialization for site-specific projects.
ABS is a trusted partner for offshore renewable energy stakeholders, delivering advisory and technical review solutions that help minimize risk and enhance safety. For more information on ABS Global Offshore Renewables services click here.
ABS Approves Novel Floating Wind Platform Developed by Aikido Technologies
Meanwhile, on February 5, 2025, ABS issued a statement of maturity to Aikido’s innovative floating wind platform design, the latest stage in new technology qualification.
As part of the process, ABS witnessed a successful upending demonstration of the Aikido One unit, a 1:4-scale floating wind platform. The design can accelerate deployment and reduce costs for the rapidly growing offshore wind industry.
The test exhibited the platform’s ability to quickly deploy from its collapsed transportation configuration into an upright, floating configuration. ABS granted approval in principle for the technology in 2022 and has worked closely with Aikido throughout the development of the platform.
“The offshore wind industry needs innovative technologies to meet production targets. ABS is proud to have supported the development of Aikido’s novel floating wind platform from the beginning,” said Rob Langford, ABS Vice President, Global Offshore Renewables.
The compact design of the Aikido platform allows the platform to be assembled more quickly in smaller port areas and transported using existing barges, increasing the supply of ports and vessels that can support the offshore wind industry. This could enable faster and cheaper development of floating offshore wind projects.
“Having a third-party validation of our design and test procedures from ABS has been crucial to derisking our technology for our customers, insurers and other partners. We hope to continue to work with ABS on future full-scale projects,” said Sam Kanner, CEO of Aikido Technologies.
As the leading provider of classification services for the maritime and offshore industries, ABS is uniquely positioned to support the safe application of innovative technologies as the global industry moves toward more sustainable practices.
To date, ABS is responsible for directly assisting with various offshore wind projects totaling over 80 megawatts. Find more information on how ABS is supporting offshore wind developments here.