LONDON, Dec. 11, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Sperra Seaworks Limited, supported by Bardex Energy UK Limited, has been awarded £1,000,000 in funding through The Crown Estate's Supply Chain Accelerator (SCA) programme to advance the Floating Construction Station (FCS) a concept that could expand nearshore manufacturing and assembly capacity for offshore wind. Additional industry-provided matching contributions are provided by project partners. The work builds upon an ongoing Sperra project funded by the National Offshore Wind R&D Consortium (NOWRDC).
The FCS is being evaluated as a deployable solution that could be installed at multiple UK ports to support the manufacturing, assembly, launch, and retrieval of floating wind foundations. The work aligns with the needs of the Celtic Sea programme, where The Crown Estate plans to lease up to 4.5 GW of floating offshore wind capacity https://www.thecrownestate.co.uk/our-business/marine/round-5.
The SCA programme focuses on strengthening supply chain capability for large scale offshore wind https://www.thecrownestate.co.uk/news/offshore-wind-supply-chain-receives-further-13m-boost.
Early-stage feasibility for potential UK installation sites
Through SCA, the project team will complete preliminary engineering, evaluate potential installation sites, and develop plans for consenting and construction of the first full-scale FCS in the UK. This work will help determine how the FCS could be adapted for different ports across the United Kingdom.
"Floating wind in the Celtic Sea represents one of the UK's most significant industrial opportunities," said Jason Cotrell of Sperra Seaworks Limited. "Support from The Crown Estate's SCA programme and NOWRDC allows us to complete the engineering and feasibility studies needed to evaluate this concept and bring it to an investment ready stage."
A nearshore construction concept for floating wind
At the centre of the project is the Floating Construction Station, a floating platform integrated with Bardex's OmniLift chain jack shiplift system. OmniLift is an established and operational technology currently in use for heavy marine and industrial applications.
https://www.bardex.com/applications/omniliftoffshorewind/
"The Floating Construction Station, integrated with our OmniLift system, provides a practical pathway to simplify how floating wind foundations are handled and deployed," said Ian Finch, Director, Business Development - EMEA, Bardex Energy UK Limited. "Our technology is proven today in demanding environments, and we are excited to support its evaluation for the UK's floating wind sector."
Port Talbot as a promising candidate location
The FCS concept is being assessed for suitability across multiple UK ports. Port Talbot has emerged as one promising option due to its deep water access, industrial waterfront, and role in ongoing Celtic Sea planning, including participation in the Celtic Freeport initiative and assessment activity under the UK Government's Floating Offshore Wind Manufacturing Investment Scheme, FLOWMIS.
"Port Talbot has an important role to play in enabling floating wind in the Celtic Sea," said Andy Reay, Head of Offshore Wind, Associated British Ports. "We welcome early stage technical work that helps evaluate feasibility, regulatory pathways, and the potential contribution of new infrastructure concepts such as the Floating Construction Station."
About Sperra Seaworks Limited
Sperra Seaworks Limited is the UK subsidiary of Sperra, a company developing marine infrastructure solutions that support offshore renewable energy deployment. https://www.sperra.com
About Bardex Energy UK Limited
Bardex Energy UK Limited is a subsidiary of Bardex Corporation, a global leader in heavy lift, mooring, and motion control systems for marine and energy industries. Bardex's OmniLift shiplift and transfer systems are used worldwide in demanding operational environments and support the next generation of floating offshore wind infrastructure while their BarLatch and BarMoor products offer safe, field-proven mooring solutions for gigawatt-scale floating wind projects.
https://www.bardex.com
Media Contact
Charlotte Marston
Media Relations
Sperra Seaworks Limited
charlotte.marston@sperra.com
A photo accompanying this announcement is available at https://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/966536f9-14bf-423c-be21-42c2ce6f8dac
