The rapid development of floating offshore wind is expected to create a significant new source of demand for specialized offshore support vessels, with potential supply tightness emerging in some vessel classes as early as 2029, according to a new report by the American Bureau of Shipping (ABS) and Intelatus Global Partners.
The report, Floating Offshore Wind and the Vessels That Support It, identifies large Anchor Handling Tug Supply (AHTS) vessels and Multi-Purpose Support Vessels (MPSVs) as among the most important vessel types for the development of floating wind projects. Their roles include pre-installing anchors and mooring lines, towing floating platforms, supporting hook-up and tensioning operations, installing subsea cables, and carrying out inspection, maintenance and repair work.
Demand for capable AHTSs and MPSVs is expected to strengthen materially from the late 2020s onward. The report indicates that tightness could emerge in certain vessel classes as early as 2029, particularly while offshore oil and gas activity continues to sustain demand for the existing support fleet.
The finding points to a potential opportunity for shipowners, offshore contractors and shipyards to position themselves ahead of the market. The report describes the expected vessel demand not only as a possible constraint on floating wind development, but also as a signal for early investment, fleet positioning and capability development.
Existing offshore fleet may not be enough
While the floating wind sector can draw on the established offshore support fleet developed for oil and gas, the report cautions that many existing vessels were not designed to handle the size and volume of components associated with floating wind projects.
As a result, operators will increasingly have to decide whether existing vessels can be used without modification, upgraded to meet new requirements, or replaced by purpose-built vessels. The report suggests that some operators may ultimately favor newbuild vessels specifically designed around the emerging requirements of floating wind rather than relying entirely on adapted legacy offshore tonnage.
Vessel capability will become a competitive advantage
The report stresses that simply having a vessel available will not be sufficient as floating wind projects increase in scale and complexity. Vessel suitability will become an increasingly important differentiator.
Key requirements include high bollard pull, substantial crane capacity, adequate deck space, large chain-locker and handling capacity, capable winches, Active Heave Compensation (AHC) systems, and offshore construction capabilities. Vessels will also need to handle larger anchors, heavier chains and, in some cases, large-diameter fiber ropes.
As turbine ratings, floating platform sizes and mooring loads increase, demand is expected to concentrate toward the upper end of vessel capability, making high-specification AHTSs and MPSVs particularly important to project execution.
Ports and supply chains also face a readiness challenge
The report emphasizes that vessel availability is only one part of the equation. The transition from demonstration projects to commercial-scale floating wind will also depend on port infrastructure, supply-chain capacity, technology standardization and efficient installation and maintenance strategies.
The report therefore sees an emerging opportunity across the wider maritime industry, including vessel owners, operators, offshore service providers, shipyards, subsea contractors and port operators.
With vessel demand expected to grow ahead of full commercial market scale, companies that invest selectively in fleet upgrades, newbuild programs, mooring expertise and offshore project capabilities could establish an early position in what the report describes as a promising long-term growth market.
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