Beyond the sandy soils of the North Sea, a new generation of offshore wind projects faces a tougher test: rock-hard seabeds. Meeting this challenge calls for cutting-edge engineering, smarter digital tools and a deep understanding of how jack-ups interact with the seabed beneath them.
The shift to new offshore frontiers
As offshore wind expands beyond the familiar waters of the North Sea, developers are entering new regions, each with their own unique environmental and seabed conditions. From the rugged coasts of the North Atlantic to Japan’s deep bays and Australia’s continental shelves, these new frontiers hold immense promise for renewable energy. Yet beneath the waves lies a less visible challenge: hard seabeds and rocky foundations that test the limits of jack-up vessels. The combination of greater water depths, dynamic sea states and harder seabeds adds significant complexity to offshore wind construction.
Companies such as GustoMSC, with long-standing experience in jack-up design and engineering support, play a key role in enabling this transition. As offshore wind moves into uncharted territory, success increasingly depends on translating practical knowledge into innovative engineering solutions, helping the industry adapt safely and efficiently to the tough realities of hard soil and rock.