MODEC, Inc. ("MODEC") is pleased to announce that SOFEC Inc. (“SOFEC”), a MODEC Group company, has been awarded an Approval in Principle (“AiP”) by the American Bureau of Shipping (“ABS”) for its Electric Charging Buoy.

A global effort to reduce carbon emissions and pollution has led to the review of trends in the marine industry. One area of interest is expanding the use of electric shore power and renewable energy as fuel sources. Vessels at sea, or in harbor that are not quayside, are not typically afforded the benefit of shore electric power, which allows the vessel to switch off on-board fossil fuel engines or battery systems. Additionally, in the near future, same as the Electric Vehicles (EVs), offshore vessels like tugboats, Crew Transfer Vessels (CTVs), Service Operation Vessels (SOVs), among others will be full electric, therefore the need of offshore electric charging stations.

As a part of SOFEC’s commitment to the Energy Transition and Renewable Energy, we are pleased to announce that ABS has awarded the newly developed Electric Charging Buoy an AiP.

SOFEC has adopted its experience of more than 50 years in the design of Marine Terminals and Mooring Systems to address the need for offshore power transfer. Traditional SOFEC Catenary Anchor Leg Mooring (CALM) buoy designs have integrated electrical power cable management solutions that allow vessel(s) mooring while utilizing externally supplied power. By using this proven concept, SOFEC can leverage its buoy designs and modify them to accommodate offshore electric power transfer from seaports or offshore wind farms substations to Electric Vessels. Earlier this year, SOFEC announced the award on an AiP from DNV for our Refrigerated Ammonia Jetty-less Transfer Systems. This shows SOFEC’s commitment to a cleaner and better planet.