Tugdock signs MoU with Salamander floating offshore wind farm

Offshore floating wind technology firm Tugdock has signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with Salamander floating offshore wind farm to collaborate on floating offshore wind energy in Scotland.

The partners will collaborate in research and innovation related to the development of technologies and supply chains for floating wind energy in Scotland.

Salamander Offshore Wind, a joint venture development project between Simply Blue Group, Ørsted and Subsea7, will be located offshore from Peterhead in North-East Scotland.

Tugdock will bring its technology to the partnership, which consists of a modular road transportable space frame with the use of patented air lift bags that are filled and then vented using compressed air. By confining the air lift bags into a space frame configuration and deck arrangement, their product can be used as additional buoyancy modules or submersible platforms.

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This technology enables floating offshore wind turbine substructures to be built or assembled and the turbines integrated in ports with water depth or space restrictions. According to Tugdock, it's a lighter, shallow drafted, quicker, and more cost-effective alternative to a steel hulled barge or floating dock.

Lucas Lowe-Houghton, director of business growth at Tugdock, adds: “Floating offshore wind will be vital in achieving the UK’s mission to achieve net zero. Proactive collaboration between companies will help the industry to meet the challenges and unlock its full potential.”

In recent months, Tugdock has also announced partnerships with Sarens, the global crane rental and heavy lifting firm, and with Crowley, a US-based supply chain solutions company serving the offshore wind sector, exploring floating offshore wind in locations, such as the US West Coast.