Odfjell Oceanwind has received Basic Design Approval (BDA) from DNV for its Deepsea Star floating offshore wind foundation, marking a major milestone in the development of large-scale floating wind technology.
The certification covers Siemens Gamesa’s SG DD-236 15MW turbine and verifies the floater’s suitability for a wide range of operating conditions, including the harsh environments of the North Sea and UK waters.
Granted under the DNV-RU-OU-0512 standard for floating wind installations, the BDA confirms compliance with DNV-ST-0119 requirements, encompassing the main steel structure, corrosion protection, stability, mooring, and electrical systems.
Odfjell Oceanwind said the approval strengthens investor confidence, reduces risk for developers, and provides a foundation for faster project-specific optimisation and certification.
Chief executive Per Lund said: “Achieving this BDA classification has been a strategic priority for Odfjell Oceanwind. By using a floater design with BDA, the likelihood of getting to financial close is significantly increased.
“Through Odfjell’s more than 50 years legacy in the maritime industry we have seen the power of using recognised classification agencies like DNV for third-party classification and certification of standardised designs. The BDA provides certainty to safety regulators, banks, insurance companies, developers and suppliers that the Deepsea Star design can be trusted and thereby contributes to its overall bankability.”
He added that the design’s certification is expected to play a key role in driving down costs and ensuring floating wind’s role in the future energy mix.
DNV global segment director for floating offshore wind Sille Grjotheim said: “Our Basic Design Approval for the Deepsea Star floating foundation builds on an earlier concept validation and confirms the design’s compliance with recognised industry standards. This design has also been verified by additional independent analyses, increasing confidence in the review. We are proud to support Odfjell Oceanwind in their development of a robust floater for the floating wind market.”