The Future FLOW Installation Vessel (FFIV) aims to significantly reduce carbon emissions and improve the efficiency of floating wind farm construction.
The concept was developed through a collaboration involving Solis Marine Engineering, Tope Ocean, First Marine Solutions, and Celtic Sea Power. The team has completed the first stage of a feasibility study under the Clean Maritime Demonstration Competition Round 4 (CMDC4), funded by the UK Department for Transport and delivered by Innovate UK.
According to Morek Engineering’s Bob Colclough, the goal was not to retrofit existing vessels with greener propulsion, but to identify where the greatest carbon savings could be achieved in the construction process for floating wind farms. The FFIV integrates low-emission fuel systems, a hydrodynamically optimized hull, and expanded mooring capacity to deliver time and cost savings over current installation methods.
The vessel is designed to support all three major types of anchors used in floating wind: drag embedment, suction piles, and driven piles. It can install mooring lines on pre-installed anchors, preparing them for quick connection to floating foundations.
Simon Hindley of Solis Marine Engineering noted that the FFIV rethinks the mooring installation process by combining energy-efficient design with a low-emission methanol-based powertrain. The vessel uses azimuth thrusters and optimized dynamic positioning to reduce fuel consumption and improve performance in offshore conditions.
Key features of the design include a large below-deck tank for synthetic mooring ropes and chain lockers to handle the extensive chain requirements of floating wind farms.
Ian Godfrey of Tope Ocean emphasized the industry’s need for purpose-built vessels: “The current global fleet is not equipped to handle the serialised installation demands of floating wind projects. This concept represents a crucial step toward meeting that need.”
The FFIV was recently presented to industry professionals at a Society of Maritime Industries event in London. The project now moves into the next phase, focusing on equipment for rope handling, weather analysis, and compliance with regulations for methanol-fueled systems. The consortium is targeting Approval in Principle from a major classification society by December 2025.
