Workpackages

WP1 aims to collect and analyse data concerning the operation of offshore windfarms. This covers the current state-of-the-art and main industry challenges in relation to operations and maintenance, novel vessels and equipment, supply chain and logistics of offshore wind. The objectives of this analysis involve the development trends of labour and energy market, consideration of different parameters effect on cost of energy for offshore windfarm, investigation of recent regulations and policies overriding and the latest business and technology infrastructure. The University of Strathclyde department of Naval Architecture, Ocean and Marine Engineering (NAOME) is the task leader, whereas Rolls Royce, Astilleras Gondan and Global Marine Systems Limited provide data and have advisory roles.

WP2 deals with the vessel operational efficiency improvements including energy efficiency and task efficiency.

The WP2 objectives are as follows:

• Vessel hydrodynamic performance improvement by considering the hull as well as propulsor-(and/or rudder) interaction using  numerical assessment tools.
• Vessel systems efficiency increase by integrating energy efficient technologies/measures along with energy management.
• Investigation of energy storage technologies (batteries) and alternative energy sources (LNG, hydrogen, cold ironing) for increasing efficiency and reducing emissions and operating cost.
• Vessel and Fleet operation optimisation.
• Investigation into the use of on board collected operational data for fleet, vessel and operation management
• Operational planner development

The University of Strathclyde and Rolls Royce will lead the different tasks within this WP, but support and input from Global Marine System Limited.

WP3 will assess the overall safety aspects of the project by:

• Performing risk assessment of new and adopted technologies and operation arrangements, as well as of the baseline design.
• Investigating cyber-security vulnerabilities of new and adopted technologies and operation arrangements, as well as of the baseline design.
• Developing risk controls for safety and cyber-security and demonstrate their adequacy
• Improving the safety management system of SOV
• Providing input for development of specialised safety requirements in WP6.

The University of Strathclyde will be the task leader. Rolls Royce will have an advisory role.

WP4 will develop a robust modelling platform to allow decision-makers to manage trade-offs between key business risk parameters effectively and efficiently for the service operations vessel solution.

WP4 will develop the analysis in support of the business case for NEXUS by:

• Supporting agile business development of vessels to support valuation and appraisal given uncertainties.
• Providing a modelling process to assess, and support trade-offs between, key risk parameters.
• Designing a mechanism to manage key risk parameters cost-effectively.
  Conducting analysis to explore strategic business vulnerabilities and transfer of risk between actors.
• Providing management information that will contribute to the business case.

The University of Strathclyde SBS team lead WP4, with key input from all other partners and our advisory board to scope, structure, use and evaluate the decision model.

WP5 will consider Feasibility study (simulations) & robust design requirements by:

• Integrating business and ship performance modelling under one umbrella
• Generating a list of plausible scenarios involving relevant stakeholders
• Creating high level concepts to evaluate technologies on the correct basis
• Performing a comprehensive feasibility study and result analysis
• Selecting the most feasible concepts for further development

Global Marine Systems Limited, Rolls Royce and The University of Strathclyde take the lead in each of the different tasks.

WP6 will establish a recommendation on the regulations that should be applied to the concepts in WP7 and for further use in a regulatory context.

This will be achieved by following the systematics of the IMO FSA Guidelines which has been structured as tasks:

• Identification of the hazards in relation to operation and design
• Ranking and selecting hazards for the quantitative risk analysis
• Mapping of existing rules and their relevance
• Risk Analysis and study of risk control options
• Cost benefit assessment
• Recommendations for decision making

DNV GL is the task leader of this WP. Rolls Royce, the University of Strathclyde, Astilleras Gondan and Global Marine Systems Limited are participating.

WP7 will develop the vessel concept design, based on the input from WP 1, 2, 3, 4 and 5 and will:

• Establish vessel basic design form the chosen concept(s) meeting the requirements as close as possible
• Provide overview of critical parameters regarding compliance and performance
• Include cost effective manufacturing measures into the design

Rolls-Royce Marine is the task leader. Astilleras Gondan and DNV GL provide data and have advisory roles.

WP8 considers the vessel design, construction and operation testing and validation:

a. simulations, which involves:

• Validation of hull resistance and propulsion by CFD (final vessel concept)
• Evaluation of Vessel motions by frequency domain simulation (Veres)
• Evaluation of vessel operation (sailing between turbines, DP) by time domain desktop simulation (Vesim) and full-scale simulator.

b. Validation/testing, which involves:

• Benchmarking of computer aided performance assessment tools results by means of model test program
• Calculation models compared and updated/adjusted to align with model test results (where needed).

c. Construction, which involves:

• Considering construction complexities, possible modularisation and costs evaluated and compared to reference vessels.

Astilleras Gondan and Rolls-Royce Marine are the task leaders, while the University of Strathclyde has an advisory role.

WP9 will develop the final NEXUS business case. 

This involves:

• Developing a Business Case for the ship owners providing justification for the CAPEX investment in a ship design.
• Developing a Business Case for O&M contractors justifying the OPEX spend on the vessel for a range of different wind farm characteristics.

Global Marine Systems Limited lead WP9 and will work closely with the University of Strathclyde SBS team.

WP10 assesses the quality, exploitation and dissemination plan of NEXUS.
The objectives of this WP are:

• Create a Quality Assurance Plan to ensure the work and deliverables are carried out to the highest standards,
• Develop an Exploitation and Implementation Plan to describe how partners plan to implement the output of NEXUS results in their business strategy,
• Prepare, implement and monitor a dissemination strategy of the project results, identifying measures to maximise their sustainable impact and communication channels and means,
• Initiate and coordinate the dissemination measures and the cooperation with other EU projects during the life of the project
• Manage the protection of results and handle any arising intellectual property issues.

Rolls-Royce Marine and ARTTIC are co-leading this WP with the participation of the consortium.

WP11 covers the project management aspect of the project including:

• Project Coordination including communication with the EC, chairing operational bodies, preparing and submitting amendments, monitoring compliance by beneficiaries with their obligations and progress and finance reporting to the EC.
• Day to day administration management -  communication with the project partners, organisation of meetings, administration, legal issues management tools and project internal financial and progress reporting
• Overall management of the technical Work Packages

Rolls Royce and ARTTIC are co-leading this WP with the participation of the consortium.