Description
The project's overall objective is to generate knowledge and develop a technical solution for low cost offshore structures fabrication and eliminate the use of welded joints in such structures, with high durability through the use of advanced coatings to prevent the growth of marine organisms, and therefore, reducing the maintenance costs. The low cost structures fabrication will be achieved by applying a design of jacket structures (steel structures formed by tubes which are fixed to the seabed) in which welded joints between the tubes forming the structure are not needed. The high durability of the structure will be achieved by modifying the reformulations of the paint currently used (base of acrilic polyurethane), with nontoxic stabilizers, which avoid colonization and growth of algae and crustaceans. This also slows down bio corrosion in the structure and minimizes the environmental impact. This project is an opportunity to access the offshore renewable energy sector with a new and innovative form of paint/coating.
Summary of project results
The JOINTS-OFF project focused on the proof of concept of a novel technical solution towards new designs of innovative and costly effective jacket foundations for offshore structures. • IDESA has been working in the decrease of the fabrication and maintenance costs of the off-shore structures by innovative designs of new jacket foundations based on tensegritic structures. • IRURENA has been working in minimizing the ecologic and environmental impact of off-shore structures through the development of new non-toxic coatings which inhibit the settlement of organisms and/or enhance the release of settled organisms with no chemical reactions. More detailed, IRURENA, working in close collaboration with CIDETEC, has developed a new kind of antifouling additives for paints that are able to generate a hydrogel layer on the top of the surface once in contact with the water. These novel additives were perfectly biocompatible, inexpensive and easily scalable.
Summary of bilateral results
The collaboration with a donor country organization was established with SINTEF, a research organization from Norway. The contribution of SINTEF to the project consisted of trials in real marine conditions of several specimens manufactured by IDESA and painted by IRURENA. The tests performed by SINTEF were an important part of the project, as it provided controlled real marine conditions that enabled SINTEF to give quality feedback to IRURENA about their coating. If IRURENA continues with the development of this business line of coatings, they will count on SINTEF for further collaborations. SINTEF has provided IRURENA and IDESA with its feeback as an expert about the results of the test carried out. This feedback has been very important to validate the Project results.