What is the primary function of Encomara's Squid technology?

Squid is a subsea quick-connector designed for floating offshore wind turbines. It allows both the mooring lines and the electrical power cables to be pre-laid on the seabed and then rapidly connected to the floating platform in a single, streamlined operation, reducing the need for prolonged offshore vessel deployment.

Why is the ABS Product Design Assessment (PDA) certification important?

The ABS PDA certification is a crucial regulatory milestone indicating that the design of the Squid system complies with stringent marine safety and engineering standards. This independent validation is essential for gaining the trust of offshore developers, marine underwriters, and financial institutions who require certified technology to mitigate project risks.

How does this technology help lower the cost of floating offshore wind?

By simplifying and accelerating the hook-up process, the technology significantly reduces the number of days expensive offshore construction vessels must spend at sea. It also allows developers to take advantage of shorter, more flexible weather windows, thereby reducing the financial risks associated with installation delays.

Offshore Energy · June 17, 2026 (Jun 17) · 1 min read

Encomara’s subsea installation technology for floating wind gets ABS design approval

Analysis

AI-assisted analysis · reviewed by Yuri Kan

The American Bureau of Shipping (ABS) has granted Product Design Assessment (PDA) certification to Encomara's 'Squid' subsea connector, a proprietary technology designed to streamline the installation and hook-up of floating offshore wind turbines. This regulatory milestone validates the technical viability of a system aimed at reducing offshore vessel time and minimizing operational risks during the critical mooring and cabling phases. As the offshore wind sector increasingly shifts toward deeper waters, standardized quick-connect technologies like Squid are becoming essential to making floating wind commercially viable.

Key Facts

Encomara's proprietary 'Squid' subsea installation technology has officially received Product Design Assessment (PDA) certification from the American Bureau of Shipping (ABS).
The Squid system is a specialized quick-connector designed to integrate both mooring lines and power cables into a single, rapid-connection installation process for floating offshore wind platforms.
By enabling pre-lay operations of mooring lines and dynamic cables, the technology allows installation vessels to perform rapid hook-ups, significantly reducing expensive offshore vessel days.
The ABS certification confirms that the design complies with recognized industry standards and engineering practices, a critical prerequisite for commercial deployment in utility-scale projects.
Encomara developed the technology specifically to address the high marine operations costs and weather-window dependencies that currently bottleneck the floating offshore wind sector.

Background & Context

The floating offshore wind sector is transitioning from small-scale demonstration projects to commercial-scale arrays, but it remains constrained by high capital expenditure and complex marine logistics. Traditional hook-up methods for floating structures require multiple offshore operations, involving highly specialized and expensive construction vessels. To lower the Levelized Cost of Energy (LCOE) for floating wind, the maritime industry has been actively seeking standardized, plug-and-play subsea connection systems that can decouple the pre-installation of anchors and cables from the actual arrival of the floating platform.

Market Impact

This ABS approval is a significant step forward for Encomara, as third-party certification is a strict requirement for insurance and financing in offshore energy projects. For offshore wind developers, the adoption of the Squid system could dramatically lower installation risks and vessel charter costs by shortening the offshore assembly window. Marine contractors will benefit from safer, more predictable operations, as the quick-connect mechanism reduces the time personnel must spend performing hazardous offshore rigging. Furthermore, this development signals a growing market for specialized subsea hardware suppliers who can bridge the gap between traditional oil and gas offshore expertise and renewable energy deployment.

What to Watch

Following this design approval, Encomara is expected to move toward physical prototype testing and real-world sea trials to demonstrate the Squid system's performance under dynamic marine conditions. Industry observers should watch for potential partnership announcements with major floating wind developers or offshore installation contractors for pilot deployments. Success in these initial trials will be crucial for securing commercial-scale orders as the first wave of utility-scale floating wind projects in Europe and Asia-Pacific approach construction.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the primary function of Encomara's Squid technology?: Squid is a subsea quick-connector designed for floating offshore wind turbines. It allows both the mooring lines and the electrical power cables to be pre-laid on the seabed and then rapidly connected to the floating platform in a single, streamlined operation, reducing the need for prolonged offshore vessel deployment.
Why is the ABS Product Design Assessment (PDA) certification important?: The ABS PDA certification is a crucial regulatory milestone indicating that the design of the Squid system complies with stringent marine safety and engineering standards. This independent validation is essential for gaining the trust of offshore developers, marine underwriters, and financial institutions who require certified technology to mitigate project risks.
How does this technology help lower the cost of floating offshore wind?: By simplifying and accelerating the hook-up process, the technology significantly reduces the number of days expensive offshore construction vessels must spend at sea. It also allows developers to take advantage of shorter, more flexible weather windows, thereby reducing the financial risks associated with installation delays.

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