ABS has issued a product design assessment (PDA) to Encomara for its Squid™ system, a mooring and electrical cable protection technology developed to support safer, more efficient installation and operation of floating offshore wind turbines (FOWT).

The PDA builds on an approval in principle (AIP) previously granted to Encomara and represents a higher level of technical requirements and design verification. ABS completed a detailed review of the Squid system against class and industry requirements for floating offshore wind applications.

“Some of the most practical solutions for floating wind will come from what has been proven to work in the traditional offshore sectors and adapting it to the unique risk profile of offshore wind. ABS is proud to support Encomara in bringing that approach to this sector, and this assessment reflects the technical depth behind it,” said Rob Langford, ABS Vice President, Global Offshore.

Encomara Managing Director Ian Donald said, “Receiving product design assessment from ABS represents a pivotal step in Squid’s qualification journey. We’ll be conducting further inshore wet testing in Ardersier in the coming months, representing the next steps toward Technology Readiness Level assessment and commercial adoption. This is the point where years of engineering work and Aurora Energy Services’ manufacturing capability meets real-world validation. Floating wind developers need proven, bankable solutions, and this is exactly what Encomara is delivering.”

The Squid system is adapted from the Disconnectable Turret Buoy (DTB) concept, long established in floating production operations. Built largely from conventional offshore components with high technology readiness levels, it is designed to protect moorings and interarray cables during turbine installation and off-station periods, using procedures already well understood across the offshore industry. The disconnectable design can also support repair scenarios during the unit’s service life, helping reduce risk when temporary disconnection is required.