Bexco

Bexco, a Belgian offshore specialist, supplied the nylon rope components used in Floatgen’s innovative nylon mooring lines, supporting the mooring-system package delivered by LeBéon Manufacturing for France’s first floating offshore wind turbine demonstrator. The Mer et Marine article described the Floatgen station-keeping arrangement as a world-first permanent mooring system of this size using nylon for the main line sections to reduce weight and cost compared with conventional all-chain solutions. The Floatgen floating foundation was held in place by six semi-taut mooring lines connected to seabed anchors. Each line was stated to be approximately 400–600 metres long and to combine traditional chain at the ends (near the anchors and the floater connection points) with nylon for the main length. The nylon elements were specified as 220 mm diameter mooring lines intended to maintain the demonstrator at the required location, including during severe storm conditions. The mooring system was reported as being pre-installed at the SEM-REV offshore test site ahead of the demonstrator’s arrival. Bexco’s role was therefore the supply of the nylon rope material enabling the nylon-section mooring-line design selected for Floatgen’s construction and offshore deployment.