Global Underwater Hub publishes Moorings and Anchoring Systems White Paper

Global Underwater Hub (GUH) has today published a white paper outlining it’s focus on one of the critical supply chain elements for floating offshore wind.

As a key pillar of its underwater Strategic Programmes, the trade and development body, which represents the UK’s £9.4billion underwater industry, has set out how it aims to support and drive the development of mooring and anchoring systems across multiple floating production markets with a core focus on floating offshore wind. There is a genuine opportunity to establish and grow a UK Centre of Excellence by building on experience from ultra-deepwater and floating production in multiple markets.

Steve Fernie, Strategy and Policy Director of GUH said: “Congested near-shore seabeds will increasingly turn-attention to water depths outwith the realms of even deepwater-fixed solutions. At this point, floating technologies such as moorings and anchors will be the elements which drive the success of these farms and our supply chain is in the ideal position to take a leading role. Even a broad assessment of requirements suggests that upwards of 1,500 mooring system components would be required for each 1GW installed. The opportunity for the supply chain is significant”

The overriding challenge for mooring and anchoring systems is in the complexity of the system, compliance across a range of components and the speed at which demonstration-scale installations must determine commercial-scale strategies and unprecedented volumes. Optimal solutions likely involve a combination of in-water proven technologies and innovations refined for offshore wind. The requirement for each component to meet all of it’s own requirements while at the same time complimenting or not conflicting with other components in the system is paramount.

Matthew Heyman, Strategic Programme Manager for GUH added: "Anchor and Mooring systems are a complex integration of components required to work in harmony and fulfil a number of functions – the structure must remain in position, comply with its environment and ensure that the production output – via cable or riser – remains structurally sound and uncompromised. The integrated mooring system is the linchpin of floating production and the customisable element which allows the asset to be configured to the site, taking into account varying water depths, ground types and current profiles."

The Offshore Wind Industrial Growth Plan identified industrialised foundations and substructures and next generation offshore installation, operation and maintenance  as two of five areas in which the UK should be a world-leader. These areas were chosen because of the size and growth of the domestic and international markets, existing UK capabilities and track-record of developing solutions to complex underwater challenges and expertise gained in the oil and gas industry over the last five decades.

In addition to this, Great British Energy (GBE) Energy have identified Moorings and Anchors as a critical component within their Supply Chain Fund framework.
 

GUH has identified opportunities to focus on elements of the mooring and anchoring system which impact the full lifecycle of offshore wind. These include mooring configuration, port logistics and operational considerations including connection and disconnection and tensioning:

 - Anchors

 - Mooring Design (Fibre Rope/ hybrid – Configuration)

 - Connections and Tensioning

 -Installation, Storage and Operations, 

 - Maintenance, Monitoring and Emergency Response

 - Testing, Risk, Assurance and Insurance

Focus on these areas is guided by the Substructure Moorings and Anchoring Forum, established by GUH in 2025 to ensure that the entire supply chain can effectively influence standards, guidance and policy to position the UK as a centre of excellence in floating production.  

The forum is lead by an industry steering group comprising developers, manufacturers, installers, integrators and innovators across the mooring system. In addition to contributions to the white paper, the forum has curated each of Global Underwater Hub’s highly successful moorings conferences and upcoming seminar series’.  By establishing and leading the Substructure Moorings and Anchoring Forum, GUH provides the appropriate body and mechanism to ensure that the entire supply chain across tiers can influence standards and support this critical sector. The forum will begin work on a range of focus areas alongside partners across the sector.

The white paper forms the second core pillar in GUH Strategic Programmes, following the release of the Subsea Electrical Systems and Cables White Paper in 2025 which has led to workscopes across cable monitoring, handling and installation and cable insurance.

The white paper sets out the challenges for mooring and anchoring solutions and presents areas of focus where the supply chain can take a leadership role in supporting design commonality, manufacturing and setting best practice in the operational lifecycle of floating production.

Steve conclude: “The underwater supply chain has countless examples of setting international standards in subsea operations across the globe. The operational challenge for moorings is now breadth as well as depth and the key to success is to consider the system as a whole. We welcome GB Energy’s assessment that it is a supply chain area for support and the Substructure Moorings and Anchoring Forum can be a driving force to foster the collaboration needed to enable floating offshore wind.”

Access the white paper

Copies of the white paper can be accessed by registering to receive it on the below webpage.

www.globalunderwaterhub.com/Moorings-2026