NEWS

Friede & Goldman (F&G), the world’s leading independent designer of mobile offshore drilling units, is pleased to announce the signing of a strategic cooperation agreement with Dalian Shipbuilding Offshore Co., Ltd (DSOC), a renowned shipbuilding company. This collaboration will focus on delivering F&G’s latest semi-submersible design, specifically tailored to meet the criteria for safe and efficient operations in Chinese waters.

The initial phase of the partnership will introduce the newly developed ExD 1000M to the market. This design features F&G’s innovative rig arrangements and mooring system setup, offering rig owners superior station-keeping capability and exceptional operational flexibility and efficiency. Initially targeted for the Chinese market, the ExD 1000M is also applicable to worldwide operations.

By combining DSOC’s extensive experience in semi-submersible construction with F&G’s advanced design expertise, this collaboration aims to maximize rig performance and address both current and future market trends. The ExD 1000M sets new industry standards for operational capabilities and has been developed in partnership with leading Chinese drilling equipment vendors to provide a turnkey solution for clients at the most competitive pricing.

NEWS

Calvin Norton was a member of the Friede & Goldman team for 60 years before retiring this year. For his outstanding work ethic and legendary status in the industry, Norton was featured in the May-June issue of Offshore Engineer Magazine.

His long career took him through many cycles of change in the offshore industry from humble beginnings in the shipyards of the Gulf of Mexico in the early 1960s to the forward-looking offshore wind technologies of today. As F&G nears its 75th anniversary, Norton took the time to reflect on the last six decades in the offshore drilling industry.

Beginning with work on the SEDCO 135 series of semisubmersibles, Norton’s expertise helped define a standard of excellence for design at Friede & Goldman. His work touched numerous drilling systems from semi-subs to jack-ups including the L780 series, Mod 2, Mod 5, and JU2000 variants.

As he steps back from full-time work, Norton looks proudly on his time at F&G, especially the problem-solving spirit and the technical expertise of his colleagues. He never fails to emphasize the importance of innovation in design and never standing still when it comes to the offshore industry. Calvin Norton will always be a part of our team here at Friede & Goldman and though retired, he continues to offer support with the generosity of a true legend in the offshore industry.

You can read the full piece: here in Offshore Magazine.

To watch the full video interview with Calvin, visit this link.

About Friede & Goldman:

With a 75-year legacy, Friede & Goldman pioneered the offshore drilling industry with almost 300 vessels in service and is the world’s leading independent designer of mobile offshore drilling units. With 127 jack-up units built, F&G has seamlessly transitioned its expertise to the renewable energy market, focusing on wind turbine installation vessels and setting new standards in the offshore wind industry.

NEWS

Groundbreaking offshore wind feeder technology proves resilient in rigorous model testing, marking a significant step towards improving U.S offshore wind installation capacity.

Friede & Goldman (F&G), a leading provider of innovative offshore engineering solutions, is pleased to announce the successful completion of model testing for its BargeRack offshore wind feeder technology. Conducted at MARIN, a world-renowned maritime research institute in the Netherlands, the testing demonstrated the BargeRack’s exceptional performance in challenging wave conditions.

The BargeRack, a modular, safe, and cost-effective feeder solution designed to comply with US Jones Act for offshore wind, underwent rigorous testing in wave heights up to 2.5 meters. The results of the testing closely matched predictions from F&G’s simulations, validating the accuracy of their engineering models and the capability of the solution.

“We are extremely satisfied by the outcome of the model testing,” said Rick Rogers, Chief Naval Architect at Friede & Goldman. “The BargeRack’s ability to lift the feeder barge in the design wave height while keeping the turbine components well within the manufacturer’s acceleration limits is a testament to the innovative design and engineering that went into its development.”

The successful completion of the model testing marks a major milestone for the BargeRack project, bringing F&G closer to commercializing this groundbreaking technology. The BargeRack offers several advantages over traditional feeder solutions, including reduced installation and CAPEX costs, improved safety, significantly reduced project risks, greater flexibility, and improved workability in harsh weather conditions.

The BargeRack technology previously received Approval in Principle (AIP) by DNV GL Noble Denton Marine Warranty Survey (MWS) and from both ABS and DNV class societies where it was recognized for meeting the highest standards in safety, reliability, and performance.

• Jones Act Compliant: Promotes the use of the existing Jones Act compliant tug and barge fleet.
• Enhanced Safety: Unmanned – Eliminates hazardous offshore crew transfers, significantly increasing operational safety.
• Efficient Operations: Enables direct lifting of Wind Turbine components from a fixed deck direct to foundation, eliminating redundant handling and streamlining installation processes.
• Innovative Design: Features a state-of-the-art removable side-mounted configuration with integrated deck skidding system, optimizing space utilization.
• Universal Compatibility: Engineered to accommodate most existing barges and designed to be scalable for broad retrofit application across the global Wind Turbine Installation Vessel (WTIV) fleet

“We are excited to be one step closer to bringing this innovative solution to the market.” said Todd Allen, Director – Renewables at Friede & Goldman. “The success of the model testing reaffirms the significant benefit this technology can offer the offshore energy industry. The F&G team has worked closely with industry suppliers and fabricators to refine and ready the technology for deployment.”

F&G is now working with vessel owners to engineer the BargeRack retrofit onto existing vessels and incorporate its capabilities into next-generation WTIVs. The company is confident that the BargeRack will play a significant role in meeting the growing demand for renewable energy.

About Friede & Goldman:

With a 75-year legacy, Friede & Goldman pioneered the offshore drilling industry with almost 300 vessels in service and is the world’s leading independent designer of mobile offshore drilling units. With 127 jack-up units built, F&G has seamlessly transitioned its expertise to the renewable energy market, focusing on wind turbine installation vessels and setting new standards in the offshore wind industry.

NEWS

Friede & Goldman, a leading engineering and naval architecture firm, is pleased to announce the Approval in Principle (AIP) by DNV GL Noble Denton Marine Warranty Survey (MWS) for its groundbreaking BargeRack solution. This approval marks a significant milestone in the offshore wind industry and underlines Friede & Goldman’s continued commitment to offshore energy through innovative solutions, enhanced safety, and operational efficiency.

The BargeRack is a revolutionary solution designed to enhance the efficiency and safety of feedering offshore wind turbines. With Noble Denton marine services’ rigorous operability evaluation and certification process focusing on the BargeRack technology, Friede & Goldman’s BargeRack has been recognized for meeting the highest standards in safety, reliability, and performance.

Key Features of the BargeRack solution:

• Jones Act Compliant: Promotes the use of the existing Jones Act compliant tug and barge fleet.
• Enhanced Safety: Eliminates hazardous offshore crew transfers, significantly increasing operational safety.
• Efficient Operations: Enables direct lifting of Wind Turbine components from a fixed deck direct to foundation, eliminating redundant handling and streamlining installation processes.
• Innovative Design: Features a state-of-the-art side-mounted configuration with integrated deck skidding system, optimizing space utilization.
• Universal Compatibility: Engineered to accommodate most existing barges without major modifications and allowing for broad retrofit application across the global Wind Turbine Installation Vessel fleet.

“We are excited to receive the DNV Marine Warranty Approval for our innovative BargeRack solution.” said Todd Allen, Director – Renewables at Friede & Goldman. “This recognition reaffirms our commitment to delivering safe and efficient solutions to the maritime industry. The BargeRack’s innovative design and its ability to be installed on the existing worldwide WTIV fleet is as a true game-changer for the U.S. offshore wind industry. Now WTIVs working together with the U.S. tug and barge fleets can build U.S. offshore wind faster, safer, and more cost effective than ever.”

Friede & Goldman continues to be at the forefront of engineering excellence, consistently pushing the boundaries of what is possible in maritime solutions. The DNV GL Noble Denton Marine Warranty Survey Approval for the BargeRack is a testament to the company’s dedication to safety, quality, and innovation.

About Friede & Goldman:

With a legacy spanning 75 years, Friede & Goldman pioneered the offshore drilling industry with almost 300 vessels in service and is the world’s leading independent designer of mobile offshore drilling units. With 127 jack-up units built, F&G has seamlessly transitioned its expertise to the renewable energy market, focusing on wind turbine installation vessels and setting new standards in the offshore wind industry.

NEWS

Veteran engineering and naval architecture firm Friede & Goldman (F&G) and OIM Wind Ltd are proud to announce the FO-146 Wind Turbine Installation Vessel (WTIV). The FO-146 is based on F&G’s WindSetter Class WTIVs. It combines the industry’s latest technology and innovative solutions to meet the evolving needs of the global offshore wind market.

The FO-146 WTIV is the result of a collaboration between Friede & Goldman and OIM Wind, leveraging their expertise and decades of experience in the offshore industry. With a shared commitment to delivering superior value for money and addressing the challenges of the wind market, the companies have developed a vessel that offers unparalleled performance, efficiency, and versatility.

The efficient-sized hull can accommodate up to five x 18 MW or four x 20 MW WTG sets, including their Full Height Towers on its main deck. It has an impressive water depth capacity of 80 meters and with a state-of-the-art 3200 mT SWL leg encircling crane, has the reach and capacity to install XXL foundations exceeding 3000 mT.

“We are thrilled to introduce the FO-146 WTIV, a game-changing and “Green” solution that addresses the evolving demands of the offshore wind industry,” said Robert Clague, P.E., VP -Engineering of Friede & Goldman. “Our collaboration with OIM Wind has been instrumental in bringing this innovative design to fruition, combining our expertise and shared vision to deliver a vessel that sets new standards in performance and efficiency.”

OIM Wind’s Founder and Director, Oddgeir Indrestrand, added, “The FO-146 WTIV exemplifies our commitment to providing innovative solutions for the offshore industry. Through our partnership with Friede & Goldman, we have created a vessel that not only meets the needs of the “future” global offshore wind market but also offers superior value for money to our clients. We are proud to be part of this remarkable achievement.”

The FO-146 WTIV design has already generated significant industry interest with many offshore ongoing tender solicitations. And plans are underway for the construction of at least two units to meet growing demand in both the United States and Global offshore markets.

About Friede & Goldman:

Founded over 70 years ago, F&G helped pioneer the offshore drilling industry with almost 300 vessels built and is the world’s leading independent designer of mobile offshore drilling units. Building upon its 127 jack-up units, F&G has successfully applied its expertise to the renewable energy market, specifically wind turbine installation vessels.

About OIM Wind Ltd:

OIM Wind Ltd is an international company providing innovative solutions for the offshore industry, with a primary focus on the offshore wind sector. In addition, OIM Wind has the ambition to build and own their own fleet of WTIVs.

Through strategic partnerships and a commitment to excellence, OIM Wind strives to deliver superior value for money and contribute to the growth and success of the offshore wind industry.