Space@Sea Sets Out to Revolutionise Floating Islands
Horizon 2020 funded project Space@Sea commenced its work on 1 November, 2017, setting out to make a step in efficient use of the maritime environment. The consortium consisting of seventeen European partners aim to provide sustainable and affordable workspace at sea by developing a standardised and cost efficient modular island with low ecological impact. Project coordinator Maarten Flikkema at MARIN says: “The three-year project can be regarded as a success if the modular design of the multi-use platform has successfully been validated in a relevant environment at model scale”.
Space@Sea will study the most suitable shape of the floaters to minimise the motions. As starting point, triangles will be used which also allow for a modular design maximising the flexibility to add and remove deck space and applications if necessary. Offshore specialists will contribute to design a shared mooring solution in combination with a remote monitoring and sensing system to reduce installation and maintenance costs.
In Space@Sea four applications will be studied being farming, transport and logistics hub, energy hub and living. To show the potential of multi-use modular floating islands Space@Sea will conclude with the evaluation of three business cases with combinations of applications for various locations throughout Europe. Space@Sea will initiate digital communication to interested through a project website and Twitter (@SpaceAtSea). Workshops and other result sharing activities will be announced through these streams.
Space@Sea is partly funded by EU’s Horizon 2020 research programme under project number 774253. Partners working together in this MARIN coordinated project are Deltasync, DST, Nemos Delft University, Mocean Offshore, TU Hamburg Harburg, Bluewater, Univeristy of Rostock, Gicon-Grossmann, Wageningen University, University Duisburg-Essen, TU Graz, Waterstudio, Icepronav, Val Fou and DEME.