Solis Marine is collaborating on the development of a next-generation installation vessel designed to support gigawatt-scale floating offshore wind projects, utilising vessels powered by sustainable, low-emission fuels.Building on the successfully funded Clean Maritime Demonstration Competition (CDMC) Round 4 project, ‘Future Floating Offshore Wind Installation Vessel ’, Solis Marine will continue its collaboration with industry partners to undertake the next design phase for the vessel ‘CELTIC CONSTRUCTOR’.
Working with a strong consortium, including the University of Southampton, First Marine Solutions, Celtic Sea Power, Tope Ocean, and Morek Engineering, the team brings extensive expertise in offshore operations, naval architecture, marine engineering, and floating offshore wind technology. This breadth of knowledge ensures a practical and robust design outcome and will look to commercially de-risk the overall package.
The project will focus on reducing uncertainties identified in the earlier concept design by refining stability, hydrodynamics, synthetic handling systems and techno-economic aspects. The aim is to deliver a more detailed design that can be considered by shipowners and yards for future construction.
The project aims to advance the ‘CELTIC CONSTRUCTOR’ design towards commercialisation, with a clear roadmap and certification pathway aligned to emerging low-carbon fuel regulations.
By addressing technical gaps, particularly around methanol propulsion, bunkering, and supply, the project will deliver a practical, low-carbon installation vessel design with strong industry backing and a pathway to large-scale deployment.
This project is funded by UK Government through the UK Shipping Office for Reducing Emissions (UK SHORE) programme in the Department for Transport. UK SHORE has allocated over £230m since 2022 to develop the technologies necessary to decarbonise the UK maritime sector and capture the economic growth opportunity of the transition. InnovateUK, part of UK Research and Innovation, is the main delivery partner for UKSHORE interventions.
