K Line subsidiary K Line Wind Service (KWS) and UK-based shipping company Acteon have signed a non-exclusive letter of intent to cooperate on floating offshore wind turbines in Japan.

InterMoor, Acteon’s mooring and anchoring brand, will provide KWS with comprehensive technical support in mooring, transportation and installation engineering for the desktop study of the commercial project and to support the offshore installation of the demo project.

KWS is actively involved in the floating offshore wind power field. As part of the Japanese floating offshore wind research and development program, Phase 1 of the NEDO Green Innovation Fund, KWS conducted intensive research on efficient anchoring methods for large-scale floating offshore wind farms. The Japanese company will use InterMoor’s technical support for safer and more efficient transportation and installation services.

“Acteon is an ideal cooperation partner. The company has a proven track record in the field of innovation in fixed and floating wind turbines. Together with K Line’s experience in operating offshore supply vessels, we will help drive innovation and sustainability in the field of floating offshore wind energy in Japan,” said Teruki Kuramoto, President of KWS.

So far, two consortia have already been selected to develop floating offshore wind turbines. The first consortium, led by Marubeni and other local partners, aims to develop the Southern Akita Floating Offshore Wind Demonstration Project with two 15 MW demonstration offshore wind turbines on semi-submersible floating foundations.

The second consortium, consisting of C-Tech, Hitachi Zosen, Kajima, Hokutaku and MOL, will develop the “Floating Offshore Wind Turbine” demonstration project off the coast of Aichi Prefecture, with a 15 MW wind turbine on a semi-submersible foundation.