UK Researchers Tackle Landslide Risks for Offshore Wind Turbines with New Tool
Researchers at Heriot-Watt University have developed an advanced simulation tool that accurately predicts underwater landslides caused by offshore wind turbines.The new method enables developers to assess seabed stability not only at the design stage but throughout a wind farm’s lifespan, helping to optimize placement and ensure long-term resilience.Underwater landslides - when sections of the seabed suddenly shift - can impact the stability of wind turbines, particularly in areas with soft seabeds and gentle slopes.While engineering structures like monopiles (the foundations of some offshore
Belgian Energy Island in North Sea Starts Taking Shape (Video)
for the Princess Elisabeth Island, the ‘world’s first’ artificial energy island.Caissons are concrete building blocks that form the outline of the future island. In a later phase, the interior will be filled with sand to build high-voltage infrastructure that will connect new offshore wind farms.TM Edison is carrying out the work on behalf of grid operator Elia Transmission Belgium (Elia). In the coming decades, the energy island will become an essential part of Belgium’s electricity supply.The transport and installation of the caissons at sea is a technically complex operation
EnerMech Gets LLOG’s Gulf of America Pre-Commissioning Job
Energy industry services firm EnerMech has secured a contract from oil company LLOG for pre-commissioning services at the Salamanca platform in the Gulf of America.The contract covers hydrotesting and nitrogen dewatering of three 8-inch infield flowlines, one 16-inch oil export pipeline and one 10-inch gas export pipeline. The contract award follows a previous contract in for topside pre-commissioning services which EnerMech secured in 2024.The Salamanca Floating Production Unit (FPU) will operate at a depth of approximately 6,400 feet of water with production from the Leon and Castille fields.With an
CRP Subsea to Supply Well Equipment for Shell’s Whale Development
CRP Subsea, an AIS company, has secured a contract with Shell for the supply of crushable foam wrap (CFW) for the Whale deepwater development in the Gulf of America.The initial order is for one well-set, with additional orders for four more well-sets expected throughout 2025. Each well-set comprises 1,798 CFW quadrants, each one meter in length.The package also includes installation equipment, such as adhesive (one tube per two quadrants), adhesive dispensing guns, tie wraps, and Spanset straps. CFW is an engineered syntactic foam, comprised of a thermoset resin and hollow glass microspheres (HGMS).
Nexans to Deliver Subsea Cables for Second Malta-Sicily Interconnector
Nexans has secured a contract by Interconnect Malta (ICM) to deliver high-voltage subsea cable for Malta’s second interconnector.The new high-voltage alternating current (HVAC) link will reinforce Malta’s electricity system, ensuring a stable and resilient energy supply.The cables for this project will be produced at Nexans’ facility in Charleston, United States.The 225 MW interconnector will operate at 220 kV and consists of subsea cable linking Maghtab, Malta, and Ragusa, Sicily. It will be installed in parallel with the existing interconnector, previously delivered by Nexans in
Van Oord Expands its Trencher Fleet
Dutch offshore installation firm Van Oord has introduced Jet-It as the latest unit to join its trencher fleet, following the completion of a test campaign in the North Sea.Building on the expertise gained from its previous trenchers, Dig-It and Deep Dig-It, Van Oord has developed another trencher dubbed Jet-It.With the addition of the latest unit, Van Oord now operates three trenchers, all designed for the purpose of cable burial.While Dig-It and Deep Dig-It feature mechanical cutting and jetting technology, the Jet-It is equipped with jetting technology only.According to Van Oord, it boasts an
Trump Order Fast Tracks Subsea Mining
President Donald Trump signed an executive order aimed at boosting the deep-sea mining industry, marking his latest attempt to boost U.S. access to nickel, copper and other critical minerals used widely across the economy.The order, which Trump signed in private, seeks to jumpstart the mining of both U.S. and international waters as part of a push to offset China's sweeping control of the critical minerals industry.Parts of the Pacific Ocean and elsewhere are estimated to contain large amounts of potato-shaped rocks known as polymetallic nodules filled with the building blocks for electric vehicles
Fugro Cuts More Jobs, Shifts Focus to Different Business Segments
Dutch geological data specialist Fugro it would cut more jobs and shift focus to different business segments after confirming a drop in first-quarter revenue on Thursday, hit by a pause in new U.S. offshore wind projects.The company also cited a highly volatile global market environment.Sales fell 11.1% to 450 million euros ($510.12 million) year-on-year in the first quarter, in line with a earnings warning it issued earlier this month."We expect ongoing impacts of these market uncertainties into the second quarter. Our immediate priority is the continued implementation of measures to safeguard
Eco Wave Power, All-Ways Metal Sign Wave Power Tech Manufacturing Deal
Eco Wave Power, an onshore wave energy technology company, announced the signing of a manufacturing agreement with All-Ways Metal, for the production of floaters for its wave energy project in the Port of Los Angeles. This marks a milestone in the development of Eco Wave Power's first-ever U.S. proof-of-concept installation.The floaters, which form a key component of Eco Wave Power's proprietary wave energy conversion technology, will be manufactured locally by All-Ways Metal and are scheduled for delivery within 70 days. Once completed, the floaters will be installed and connected to the
February 2025
