Summary
- Profile Type
- Business Offer
- POD Reference
- BOGB20240521017
- Term of Validity
- 21 May 2024 - 21 May 2026
- Company's Country
- United Kingdom
- Type of partnership
- Investment agreement
- Targeted Countries
- All countries
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General information
- Short Summary
- UK company has developed a patented modular floating dry dock which offers a lighter and more cost-effective alternative to any present dry dock system. The company is looking for partners through an investment agreement to help them develop a fleet of their floating docking platforms.
- Full Description
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A UK SME has developed a patented, modular floating drydock technology which provides the most cost-efficient infrastructure for delivery of floating offshore wind (FLOW) at scale. The technology consists of modular road transportable steel frames with the use of air lift bags filled with compressed air.
By configuring these into a deck structure the product can be used as a submersible platform/s for building and launching FLOW substructures up to 15,000 tonnes. It is a lighter and more cost-effective alternative to a steel hulled barge or floating dock.
The company’s submersible and floating dry docks can operate with as little as 5 metres draft, enabling more efficient wind turbine floater construction. The platform is then towed to deeper water for launching of the turbines.
The floating offshore wind sector is expected to continue to grow rapidly. However, very few of the world’s ports have sufficient water depth and assembly quay space to build the huge turbine floaters required and conventional dry docks are not wide enough as they were originally designed for ships.
The company’s growth strategy is to build sufficient units for rental and become a high tech, global presence (such as that of cranes and barges/vessels).
Whilst this technology has been developed for the floating offshore wind sector, it would also be open to use to lift any marine structure or vessels operating in other sectors: aerospace, oil and decommissioning, offshore sector / renewable wind turbines.
The company seeks partners through an investment agreement to help them develop a fleet of their floating docking platforms. They are open to exploring investment options, through equity or joint venture agreements. - Advantages and Innovations
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The technology addresses challenges faced by the maritime industry, including limited port capabilities, vessel shortages, and project delays.
It is a lighter and more cost-effective alternative to a steel hulled barge or floating dock.
It allows floating dry docks to be delivered by road in modular form and assembled at the port to dimensions far wider than most of the world’s existing drydocks.
By configuring these into a deck structure the product can be used as a submersible platform/s for building and launching floating offshore wind substructures up to 25,000 tonnes.
This technology provides the most cost-efficient infrastructure for delivery of floating offshore wind at scale.
Floating offshore wind turbines are located in areas where there is deeper water and higher winds than fixed wind turbine structures, enabling them to generate higher levels of power. This means they are expected to play a key role in the transition to net zero. - Stage of Development
- Available for demonstration
- Sustainable Development Goals
- Goal 7: Affordable and Clean Energy
- Goal 9: Industry, Innovation and Infrastructure
- IPR status
- IPR granted
Partner Sought
- Expected Role of a Partner
-
The UK company seeks investment partners to help them develop a fleet of their designed and patented floating docking crafts which will be leased out, similar to the business model for cranes and barges.
Sectors of interest to the company include: aerospace, oil and decommissioning, offshore sector / renewable wind turbines.
The investor, if a ship or crane builder would invest in the building of the technology in return for equity in the business.
They may also look at a collaborative bid for funding or an equity investment to enable the craft to be built. - Type and Size of Partner
- Big company
- Other
- SME 50 - 249
- SME 11-49
- Type of partnership
- Investment agreement
Dissemination
- Technology keywords
- 04005008 - Wind energy
- Market keywords
- 06003003 - Wind energy
- 06003008 - Other alternative energy
- Sector Groups Involved
- Renewable Energy
- Maritime Industries and Services
- Targeted countries
- All countries