Lloyd’s Register awards Approval in Principle to Quoceant’s Q-Connect System

Quoceant’s subsea quick connection system, Q-Connect, has received Approval in Principle (AiP) from marine classification body, Lloyd’s Register.

Q-Connect is an adaptable, subsea, quick connection system that provides rapid mechanical and electrical connection of a marine energy device to its mooring and electrical infrastructure. The system offers ‘hands-free’ remote connection and disconnection without the need for specialist vessels, cable handling or taut lines on deck. This facilitates a range of potential operational benefits including improved health and safety, reduced weather waiting times, increased weather tolerance of operations and reducing costs.

Announcing the award at the All-Energy and Dcarbonise event in Glasgow, Quoceant Director, Beth Dickens, said:

“Obtaining Approval in Principle from Lloyd’s Register is an important achievement for Quoceant as it provides validation of our rigorous approach to the design process and gives confidence in our onward path both for future commercial deployment within the wave and tidal sector and our ongoing work to scale-up the technology for the floating wind market.”

Photo: (Left) Quoceant Director, Beth Dickens with Winston D’Souza, Technical Authority: Technical Qualification (Advisory & Certification) at Lloyd’s Register.

Lloyd’s Register is a leading provider of classification, compliance, and advisory services to the maritime and offshore industries. Additionally, Lloyd’s Register is the only International Electrotechnical Commission for Renewable Energy (IECRE), Renewable Energy Certification Body (RECB) with a scope for the assessment of Wind and Marine energy technologies. In deciding to award the AiP to Quoceant, Lloyd’s Register undertook a review of the basis of design and its adherence to relevant codes and standards alongside evaluating the design and risk management processes put in place by Quoceant.

Winston D’Souza, Global Technical Authority for Technology Qualification, Lloyds Register, said:

"Following a review of the documents submitted for an AiP assessment, Lloyd’s Register believe that Quoceant have the underpinnings for a full certification in place through the IEC standard for marine energy (IEC 62600). As an IECRE RECB for the Wind and Marine energy sectors, Lloyd’s Register will be delighted to lead the certification of the Quoceant Q-Connect system in accordance with the internationally accepted conformity assessment system."

Developed through three Stages of Wave Energy Scotland’s Quick Connection System R&D programme, Q-Connect has moved from concept design through detailed design to fabrication and testing with the system recently completing a set of full-scale qualification tests.

Quoceant recently announced that they will adapt their Q-Connect technology to address the higher load case applications in the floating wind sector where reliable and repeatable mooring and electrical connections are just as important as in the Wave Energy applications.