Acteon and Applied Fiber join forces for advanced offshore mooring solutions

Acteon, through its Moorings and Anchors business line InterMoor, has partnered with the U.S.-based Applied Fiber under a memorandum of understanding (MoU) to advance mooring solutions across global offshore sectors, from oil and gas to floating offshore wind.

The MoU is expected to see the partners develop optimized mooring solutions by combining Applied Fiber’s socketed termination technology for fiber ropes with Acteon’s mooring experience.

Tom Fulton, Head of Renewables and Mooring Development at Acteon said: “Teaming up with Applied Fiber is a sensible step which will allow us to deliver an even more standardised and intelligent rope-based mooring solution, a crucial element, especially in the context of large permanent systems for floating wind farms.”

Real-time condition monitoring of mooring lines is also a focus, with the partners set to work on methods to export monitoring data directly from mooring lines for integration into digital twin models. This approach aims to reduce mooring line failure risks.

Acteon noted that Applied Fiber’s certified termination process minimizes the variability common with manual splicing, with the socketed termination technology seen as a globally scalable solution. Additionally, the technology’s design removes the need for bulky connectors between chain and rope, which aligns with InterMoor’s mission to develop low-impact mooring systems.

The reduced weight of the solution is expected to lower installation time, costs, and carbon emissions. Acteon added that the semi-automated process within Applied Fiber’s technology also offers an industrialized approach for connecting ropes in floating offshore wind systems, minimizing supply chain bottlenecks and human error.

Sensors embedded in the terminations allow remote monitoring of mooring line conditions, with InterMoor’s data analysis expertise set to provide valuable insights into mooring health and contribute to system longevity, the company noted.

Applied Fiber’s CEO, Richard Campbell, added: “This is an incredible opportunity for both companies, each a leader in their respective fields. Our complementary technologies including Acteon’s extensive operational knowledge will undoubtedly lead to new solutions for an emerging market with very different requirements.”

Just recently, Acteon Group signed an agreement to sell Seatronics and J2 Subsea for  £63 million (approximately $81.6 million), expanding Seatronic’s subsea survey and robotics rental portfolio by 30%.