Enhancing Offshore Wind Farm Safety

Project Overview: Enhancing Offshore Wind Farm Safety

Offshore wind energy is a critical component of the renewable energy transition, but ensuring the safety of technicians during crew transfers remains a complex challenge. Crew Transfer Vessels (CTVs) play a crucial role in maintaining offshore wind turbines, navigating challenging maritime conditions to transport technicians to and from these remote installations.

Current safety assessment methods rely primarily on significant wave height, which provides an incomplete picture of the real risks involved in these critical transfers. At Mocean Forecast (MO4), we are pioneering a more sophisticated approach to predicting vessel safety by analysing vertical vessel motions, or "slip" - a nuanced metric that directly impacts the safety of technician transfers.

Detailed Project Description

Crew Transfer Vessels (CTVs) are specialised small ships that make daily journeys to offshore wind farms, transporting technicians to and from wind turbines. During these transfers, the CTV carefully approaches the boat landing, allowing technicians to step onto the ladder when the vessel is stationary.

Our developed technology aims to:

• Predict the precise magnitude and frequency of CTV vertical motions
• Provide real-time safety assessments based on advanced weather forecasting
• Support more informed decision-making for offshore wind farm operations

We are seeking a motivated master's student to join our team and contribute to this research by:

• Investigating and refining MO4s internal hydrodynamic method
• Fine-tuning our forecasting model
• Validating and verifying results using measurements and Orcaflex simulation software

About Mocean Forecast (MO4)

Located in the heart of Rotterdam, just across from Central Station, Mocean Forecast is an innovative scale-up dedicated to transforming maritime operations. Our mission is to empower ship owners and charterers with smart, data-driven solutions that:

• Maximise vessel uptime
• Reduce environmental emissions
• Enhance operational safety

Our team of 11 people is structured across three key disciplines:

• Developers: Crafting and maintaining our software solutions
• Operations: Deploying and installing hardware components on vessels
• Engineers: Providing expert consultancy, client analyses, and product prototyping

As a master's student, you'll primarily work with our Engineering team while maintaining close collaboration with developers and operations specialists.

Ideal Candidate Profile

We're looking for a candidate who:

• Thrives in a dynamic, close-knit team environment
• Has shown outstanding academic performance, specifically in hydrodynamics and underlying mathematics 
• Prefers an informal, entrepreneurial culture over traditional corporate structures
• Demonstrates proficiency in Python or MATLAB
• Possesses excellent English communication skills
• Shows a genuine passion for innovation and maritime technology

What We Offer

Beyond a competitive opportunity, we provide:

• Monthly financial compensation throughout your graduation project
• Commuter train subscription
• High-quality academic mentorship
• Unique field experience, including potential visits to Crew Transfer Vessels with our Operations team

Join us in pushing the boundaries of offshore wind energy safety and operational efficiency!