Nigel Terry and Lewis Johnston will be presenting a poster on “Design And Assessment of Dynamic Cable Interfaces (DCI) for FOW” at the FOWT26 Conference in Montpellier next week, representing Tadek Ocean Engineering.
Floating Offshore Wind (FOW) is pushing the limits of cable connection design, with dynamic systems required to withstand constant platform motion and harsh environmental loading. Unlike fixed-bottom wind, these connections cannot rely on established solutions, and failures could mean total power loss and significant safety risks.
To add to the challenge, the connections should be easily connected and reconnected to allow for platforms to be towed to port for major component replacement. While concepts from oil and gas provide some guidance, they are often large-scale, bespoke, and not suited for the rapid deployment and standardisation needed in wind. New quick-connection technologies are emerging as a promising alternative, offering safer, faster installation and the potential for efficient tow-to-port maintenance strategies.
The study brings together industry stakeholder input, concept screening, and advanced global–local analysis to assess both traditional and emerging connection systems. It compares performance across fatigue life, installation and inspection requirements, operational reliability, and reconnect-ability.
The findings highlight key functional requirements, critical load cases, and current technology readiness, helping to guide the development of robust, scalable dynamic cable interfaces for the future of floating offshore wind.
If you’re attending the conference, reach out to Nigel and Lewis to connect and discuss current challenges with dynamic cable interfaces in FOW.
