Platform Mooring Connectors Supplied for Windfloat Atlantic Project

A U.K. based subsea mooring and cable protection specialist has been called on to help connect wind turbine generator platforms to mooring lines at a floating wind farm under development offshore northern Portugal.

First Subsea said it is supplying platform mooring connectors (PMC) to Windplus SA, developer of the 25MW WindFloat Atlantic Project located about 20 km off the coast from Viana do Castelo.

The WindFloat Atlantic Project comprises three WindFloat 8MW WTG platforms, each with a mooring system made up of three catenary mooring lines, connected to drag embedded anchors. In all, First Subsea will supply nine PMCs, each with a 5500 kN MBL, to connect wind turbine generator platforms to mooring lines at a water depth of 85-100 m.

The PMCs will allow the mooring lines to be pre-laid on the seabed, prior to the arrival of the WTG platforms. With the platforms in position, the end of the mooring line will be picked up from the seabed and pulled into the PMC located on the platform’s hull structure. Once in place the connector is automatically engaged and ready for service.

“The First Subsea Platform Mooring Connector provides a quick and easy mooring connection with improved long-term fatigue benefits at the connection point with the hull,” explained Greg Campbell-Smith, sales director, First Subsea. “Moreover, the flexibility of the PMC in terms of its pre-lay installation and ability to withstand constantly varying loads and load angles, makes it the ideal choice for the WindFloat Atlantic Project.”