UK consortium reveals FLOW vessel concept

Led by Cornwall’s Morek Engineering, the Future FLOW Installation Vessel (FFIV) project is part of the Department for Transport’s UK Shipping Office for Reducing Emissions programme, a £206m initiative focused on decarbonising the domestic maritime sector. Other consortium partners include Solis Marine Engineering, Tope Ocean, First Marine Solutions and Celtic Sea Power.

“We assembled a team with deep market insight and offshore expertise, then overlaid that with a clear vision for low-emission fuel systems,” said Morek founder Bob Colclough. 

“Our goal wasn’t simply to retrofit an existing design with greener propulsion, but to pinpoint where we could deliver the greatest carbon reductions in the construction of future floating wind farms. We expect this to be attractive to a wide range of stakeholders in the floating offshore wind industry.”

The methanol-powered FFIV features a hydrodynamically optimised hull and expanded mooring capacity. Backed by Innovate UK, the project was conceived to assist the installation of FLOW infrastructure, particularly the different anchor types that the sector is currently trialling.