In July, engineers from our Survey and Positioning department travelled to Exail’s facility in Montpellier for a week-long training session and Factory Acceptance Test (FAT) on our latest purchase of an inspection class H800 ROV.

This investment aligns with our ongoing commitment to expanding our suite of services in the offshore energy sector.

The H800 vehicle was chosen for its low logistical requirements, ability to operate in harsh environments, and most importantly, its reliability. It has now arrived at our Aberdeen workshop, where integration tests and preparations are being finalised ahead of its first deployment.

Carl Lafferty, Survey Manager, commented: “Having our own vehicle reinforces FMS’s commitment to delivering high-quality services with agility. Adding the H800 to our growing equipment fleet not only complements our existing services but also helps streamline our customers’ supply chain.”

Global mooring solutions expert, First Marine Solutions (FMS), has been selected by the BlueFloat Energy | Nadara Partnership to support its upcoming floating offshore wind developments. 

The project activities will comprise engineering consultancy services pertaining to the partnership’s ScotWind (Broadshore and Bellrock) and INTOG (Sinclair and Scaraben) projects. With a predicted combined capacity of 2.3 GW, the projects could contribute significantly towards Scotland’s net-zero targets whilst maximising opportunities for the Scottish supply chain and encouraging local investment. 

Managed and delivered by FMS’ Glasgow-based renewable energy consultancy and supported by specialists from its Aberdeen headquarters, the contract will see FMS undertake a number of services designed to inform the submission and conferment of the required offshore consents, with particular emphasis upon the environmental impact and technical feasibility of each development. 

Drawing upon the company’s engineering, design and marine capabilities, the work scope focuses on mooring design screening and preliminary optimisation of concepts.

Steven Brown, FMS Managing Director, comments: “Since the inception of our renewable energy consultancy in 2020, we have been consistently developing the mooring and survey capabilities honed in the offshore oil and gas industry, in order to provide the offshore floating wind market with a comprehensive consultancy service designed to drive such landmark projects forward.

“We are therefore delighted to be working with as progressive and technically accomplished a partnership as BlueFloat Energy | Nadara, and we view this latest contract award as a significant addition to the proven track record we have been building in this field, both in the UK and overseas.”

David Robertson, Portfolio Director, Scotland at BlueFloat Energy | Nadara Partnership, said: “Knowledge and skills transferred from the oil and gas industry will be key to advancing our floating wind ambitions in Scotland and we’re confident that FMS’s experience in both operational and conceptual designs will input greatly into our ScotWind and INTOG projects going forward.”

A landmark Business Collaboration Agreement has been agreed between First Marine Solutions and Horizon Ocean Management, Ltd. (HOM) – a subsidiary joint venture between Japanese industrial giant, Mitsui and the country’s leading turbine maintenance company, Hokutaku.

The Agreement will see the development of mooring strategy-related services for the floating offshore wind power sector in Japan, providing consultancy services (installation and O&M phase), mooring installation support, and O&M services (monitoring, inspection, and repair).

FMS’ experience in the offshore wind field has included key roles in several renewable energy projects for major developers, as well as participation in landmark projects for ORE Catapult, the UK’s leading innovation and research centre for offshore renewable energy. 

HOM has already established a unique position within the supply chain of offshore wind industry in Japan. Together with FMS’ position as the energy industry’s pre-eminent mooring service provider, the collaboration delivers a powerful world-class proposition to provide an integrated mooring service including design and engineering, optimisation of windfarm layout, building installation, inspection and repair strategy, and mooring procedures.

Mr. Takagi, President of HOM, commented: “We believe that floating wind will become a popular choice in Japan in the near future, with full-scale development of floating offshore wind power generation expected. In the meantime, in addition to the development of supply chains, it will be essential to acquire engineering capabilities for offshore and subsea applications. The alliance with First Marine Solutions, which already provides mooring services for floating structures across the offshore energy sector, including floating offshore wind, is indispensable in providing the capabilities demanded by the Japanese offshore wind industry. We have been in discussions with First Marine Solutions since last year and are very pleased to be working with them in Japan. We believe this alliance will help to quickly establish mooring installation and O&M capabilities to the Japanese floating offshore wind sector.”

Steven Brown, Managing Director of First Marine Solutions, commented: “We are delighted to be working with HOM and the eminent companies that it comprises. FMS has developed a strong track record in the floating offshore wind market since the inception of our dedicated renewables consultancy in 2020; this combined with our decades’ of experience in the design, supply and installation of mooring systems in the oil and gas industry makes our offering truly unique.

“The logical next step for us was to expand into new territories and we quickly identified Japan as a key market. HOM is the perfect partner for us, given the compelling combination of Mitsui and Hokutaku. The addition of our mooring design and installation services naturally complements the market leading O&M services they already supply and we are truly excited to help develop the floating offshore wind sector in Japan.” 

Offshore marine services provider, PACC Offshore Services Holdings (“POSH”), today announced that it will be partnering with mooring and marine service specialist FMS to explore growth opportunities for floating offshore wind in Europe.

The two companies signed a Memorandum of Understanding (“MoU”) to bring together their combined expertise to market. Both POSH and FMS will work together on identifying, developing, and delivering on relevant joint tender opportunities. POSH, with assistance from FMS, will be responsible for the installation of offshore floating wind mooring systems, and FMS will be responsible for designing and subsequently supplying the offshore floating wind mooring systems as the technical authority.

This MoU follows on from POSH’s earlier announcement that it will be focusing on the development of the fast-growing floating wind market.

Mr Ulva Chai, Chief Operating Officer, POSH, said, “POSH continues our transformation to become a future-ready, sustainable solutions provider for the global energy sector. We are pleased to be working with First Marine Solutions to identify opportunities in this fast-growing sector. As specialists in offshore marine solutions, POSH will leverage on our relevant expertise and track record to offer integrated solutions for floating wind turbine projects. These services include planning & engineering, project logistics & management, pre-lay mooring, mobilisation base management, towage and hook up, cable installation, operations & maintenance, and decommissioning.”

Mr Steven Brown, Managing Director, FMS, said, “This agreement with POSH is the next step on our renewables journey which began two years ago with the establishment of a dedicated offshore renewables business unit. FMS has designed, supplied and installed mooring systems worldwide for many years for a number of different applications and look forward to bringing our technical expertise, offshore experience and technology to the ever growing floating offshore wind market.”

Offshore wind has the biggest growth potential of any renewable energy technology globally. Currently, offshore wind makes up just 2% of what the world needs to get to net zero by 2050 but is rapidly growing – forecasted to grow by 235 GW of new installed capacity over the next decade[1], seven times more than its current size.

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For further information or to speak to a POSH spokesperson, please contact:

Ms. Sandra Benny, WATATAWA Consulting, +65 9815 5695, sbenny@we-watatawa.com

To speak to an FMS spokesperson, please contact:

Mr Dave McGinlay, Business Development Director, FMS, dave.mcginlay@firstmarinesolutions.com

About PACC Offshore Services Holdings (“POSH”)

PACC Offshore Services Holdings (“POSH”) is a leading solutions provider for offshore energy operations. Our key business segments include oil and gas, floating wind and subsea operations.

With a diversified fleet of approximately 70 vessels, our services include towage and installation support, offshore accommodation, construction support, harbour towage, as well as turnkey project management. POSH also provides an integrated suite of subsea services through POSH Subsea.

About First Marine Solutions (“FMS”)

FMS specialise in temporary and permanent Mooring solutions for floating offshore units.

We offer a fully integrated service, from system design and analysis, to equipment supply and management, through to all aspects of the installation operations.

Having one of the most modern fleets of Mooring Equipment anywhere in the world, a dedicated quayside facility in Montrose, Scotland offering efficient vessel mobilisation and a market leading design, engineering and marine support function enables FMS to offer an unparalleled level of service and support to clients whilst also optimising operational and cost efficiencies across the whole project scope.

[1] Global Wind Energy Council, 2021