Crowley, a United States-based supply chain solutions company serving the offshore wind sector, has invested in Tugdock, developers of the world’s first road-transportable floating dry dock, known as the Tugdock Submersible Platform (TSP).
Crowley and Tugdock, based in Cornwall, U.K., will explore use of the platforms in locations such as the U.S. West Coast, where depth and conventional dry docks may be ill-suited to build and loadout the massive floating substructures required to support offshore wind turbines.
Tugdock’s patented TSP technology 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 dry docks. Once loaded, the platform is then towed to deeper water for launching and transporting the turbines.
“We are delighted to form a new partnership with Crowley, a visionary company at the forefront of marine innovation,” says Shane Carr, CEO of Tugdock. “Their strategic investment will enable us to take our unique technology to the U.S. floating offshore wind market for the first time.”
Adds Bob Karl, senior vice president and general manager, Crowley Wind Services: “Not only will we help installation developers solve logistics challenges, Crowley will further the use of offshore wind as a leading alternative energy source by working together with our customers, suppliers, policymakers and others across our value chain for innovations like the Tugdock Submersible Platform.”
Crowley Wind Services is developing and planning wind terminals in California, Louisiana and Massachusetts. At the California Port of Humboldt Bay, Crowley is progressing on an agreement to build and operate a terminal for manufacturing, installation and operation of offshore wind floating platforms, use of large heavy cargo vessels and provide crewing and marshaling services for the Pacific waters recently approved for leases for wind energy. Humboldt and other West Coast installations will rely upon floating offshore wind turbines.
“The cost and time constraints associated with port infrastructure developments and submersible barge suitability are major bottlenecks holding back growth of the floating offshore wind sector,” says Lucas Lowe-Houghton, director of strategy and growth at Tugdock “Our TSP technology helps overcome these issues, providing a ready-to-go solution that does not require planning or environmental permissions.”
