Compliant Mooring System for Triton Wave Energy Converter
Overview
EOM Offshore partnered with Triton Systems to design, deploy, and technically support a custom mooring solution for their Wave Energy Converter (WEC) off the coast of Dartmouth, Massachusetts.
The project required a system that would secure the WEC without restricting its motion or interfering with energy capture. By combining a 1.4-meter Whale Buoy with a custom-engineered EOM Stretch Hose, EOM Offshore delivered a compliant, data-passing mooring system that has been deployed multiple times and continues to receive ongoing technical support from our engineering team.
The Challenge
Wave energy converters rely on natural motion to generate power. For Triton’s WEC, a traditional seabed anchoring system was not feasible due to the unit’s central vertical depth tube and the need to maintain full range of motion. The challenge was to create a flexible, non-invasive mooring system that could withstand strong coastal wave forces while still enabling real-time monitoring and long-term reliability.
Our Solution
EOM Offshore engineered and deployed a turnkey mooring system built around our proven Whale Buoy and Stretch Hose technology. The stretch hose acted as a compliant mooring line, allowing the WEC to rise, fall, and pivot with waves while maintaining secure station-keeping.
The system also provided a data and communications pathway, transmitting information between the buoy and surface without the need for complex onboard electronics. In addition to the initial design and offshore deployment, EOM Offshore has continued to provide technical support, ensuring system performance across multiple deployments and preparing the WEC for future testing campaigns.
Key advantages of this solution included:
- Compliant mooring: Allowed full WEC motion while maintaining stability.
- Data transmission: Stretch hose enabled real-time monitoring without additional hardware.
- Turnkey deployment: EOM managed design, vessel charter, and offshore installation.
- Ongoing support: Continued technical assistance for multiple deployments.
- Environmental benefits: Eliminated the need for seabed anchors, minimizing ecological impact.
Summary
Through its partnership with Triton Systems, EOM Offshore demonstrated its expertise in wave energy mooring solutions, from engineering and deployment to long-term technical support. This project showcases how EOM Offshore’s stretch hose technology, buoy platforms, and hands-on field services are helping advance the marine renewable energy sector with reliable, scalable, and environmentally conscious solutions.