James Fisher Marine Services (JFMS) is collaborating with the University of Strathclyde and the University of Exeter on developing new offshore wind access forecasting methodology expected to enable safer crew transfers.
With funding from the SUPERGEN Wind Hub, the Offshore Renewables Accessibility for Crew transfer, Loss Estimation & Safety (ORACLES) project, led by Dr. David McMillan, the University of Strathclyde, aims to develop a new methodology which enables an operator to accurately forecast both the upside of a marginal-weather crew transfer in tandem with careful quantification of the safety risk to any personnel involved.
“This collaborative offshore wind energy project will explore novel access forecasting methodology which enables safe crew transfer with careful quantification of risk to human life and economic impacts. It joins novel ideas to address critical design criteria allowing the economic realisation of renewable energy generation in a harsh ocean environment,” Lars Johanning , Co-investigator on the project and Professor at the University of Exeter, said.
According to JFMS, the company’s involvement in the project provides researchers with access to a real operational test bed at offshore wind farm sites around the UK, which will help shape the product and, if successful, lead to its commercialization in the future.
Martin Dronfield , Director of Strategy and Business Development at JFMS, said: “I’m delighted by the potential which this shared project will bring. This journey began with OWMS ® which, as an idea, was conceived about five years ago when we presented our work at the 2013 EEEGR Innovation Awards. Since then it has grown from desktop concept to a highly-respected industry tool, being used by three of the major offshore wind developers including Innogy and EON.”