A Joint Industry Project (JIP) funded by the Scottish Government and administered by the Carbon Trust, under the Marine Renewables Commercialization Fund (MRCF), has combined the efforts of nine European organisations with the objective of testing and qualifying new synthetic mooring components.
After the testing, nylon has been qualified for permanent application and has confirmed its cost-saving potential.
The use of nylon can be considered as a cost-effective solution in shallower water depths.
A European JIP, composed of Tension Technology International (project leader), the rope manufacturer Bridon International, Ideol, Bluewater Energy Services, DNV-GL and Lloyd’s Register (LR) has been set up for qualifying nylon via a rope testing programme so that it can be deployed safely and certified for permanent moorings.
Lloyd’s Register (LR) has conducted a technology qualification, which evaluated the qualification steps for the ropes designed by Bridon International.
LR also witnessed key rope tests conducted at TTI testing Ltd and Bridon International, including 20 million fatigue cycles on the nylon sample. These tests have confirmed the qualification of nylon for long term application.
The JIP has also developed new modelling methodologies for nylon rope.
As part of this JIP, textiles gravity anchor bags were also developed in partnership with partners Vryhof and TenCate with sea trials conducted by University of Exeter. These will be a cost-effective option for umbilical system stabilization in wind, as well as offering a solution in anchor tidal power applications and other marine energy devices which face challenges of seabed anchoring.