10159892Celtic Constructor - Clean Fueled Floating Offshore Wind Installation VesselClosedCollaborative R&DInnovate UKBuilding upon the successfully funded CMDC 4 project, Future FOW Installation Vessel (FFIV), this project will undertake the next design phase for ship, the Celtic Constructor. Specifically focusing on de-risking the concept as an economically efficient methanol powered vessel for deploying fibre rope mooring systems for floating offshore wind (FOW) farms. The UK is at the forefront of offshore wind expansion, a vital component of its clean energy transition. However, with ambitious targets to increase offshore wind capacity from 13.6 GW to 50 GW by 2050, and a project pipeline exceeding 100 GW, emissions from operation and maintenance vessels, which constituted 3.2% of domestic shipping emissions in 2022, could escalate significantly. Achieving these targets necessitates a step-change in offshore construction, from one of installations to large arrays. Aiming to do this and utilise clean shipping innovations requires a new vessel class with innovative features. While historical offshore wind development focused on fixed foundations, the future lies in floating foundations, unlocking deeper sites and stronger winds. The Celtic Constructor project directly addresses the need for specialised vessels in this evolving landscape. This project will look to remove the uncertainties within the previously developed concept design, by iterating on the stability, hydrodynamics and techno-economic aspects of the design, to produce a more detailed design suitable for ship owners and yards to consider for building. This will be done in regular conjunction with an already established stakeholder network to ensure all elements of the design are fit for purpose. This includes working with rope manufacturers to consider factors such as rope tensioning, spooling, and deployment methodologies to minimise operational time and maximise safety. The project benefits from a strong UK SME team with extensive experience in offshore operations, naval architecture, marine engineering, and FOW technology. This expertise ensures a practical and robust design outcome. By further exploring the reduced hull resistance and increased storage capacity for fibre rope handling of the proposed design, it is expected that this project will yield a design for a vessel that is both a) capable of reducing the overall initial carbon footprint of installed FOW arrays, and b) attractive to ship owners and developers for further investment and commissioning a vessel build. The project will engage with UK shipbuilders to ensure it is capable of building in the UK, thereby solidifying the UK's leadership in floating offshore wind technology deployment.