The research conducted under the leadership of DNV in the NorMoor project has recently been included in the international standard ISO 19901-7:2026. This new standard has been developed with the aim of improving safety and reducing the risks associated with the failure of mooring systems in floating marine facilities. The failure of a mooring system can have significant safety, environmental, and financial repercussions.
NorMoor Project and Industrial Partnerships
The NorMoor project was established in 2011 and involves collaboration among operators, engineering companies, manufacturers, regulatory bodies, and technical experts to improve the design and assessment of marine mooring systems. Throughout this project, about 20 organizations, including major operators and suppliers in the marine value chain, have participated. According to Siril Okkenhaug, project manager of NorMoor at DNV, this project has become a unique venue for exchanging design and operational experiences among companies.
Methodology and Its Impact on the Industry
Through three phases of the NorMoor project, DNV and industrial partners have developed reliability-based methods and calibrated safety factors that include the assessment of key design conditions such as Ultimate Limit States (ULS), Accidental Limit States (ALS), and Fatigue Limit States (FLS). These methods have gradually been incorporated into DNV's marine standards and have been validated as an international standard in ISO 19901-7:2026.
This new standard helps industries create a coherent framework for the design and assessment of mooring systems. Prajeev Rasiah, Senior Vice President and Regional Director of DNV in Northern Europe, noted that this achievement represents the important role of standards in the safe and reliable development of marine environments. Given the evolution of marine energy systems and the growth of floating wind energy, such collaborations will be essential for building trust and supporting sustainable development.
Economic and Safety Benefits
The maritime industry is currently witnessing tangible benefits from the implementation of the updated framework. According to Equinor, projects utilizing the 2026 edition of the ISO 19901-7 standard have experienced significant reductions in mooring-related costs while maintaining the required safety levels. This includes new projects and existing assets such as the Wisting FPSO and Heidrun B FSO.
The results of NorMoor included in Appendix B.2 of the ISO 19901-7 standard pertain to new and existing assets on offshore platforms in Norway, and compliance with this standard will be mandatory for Norwegian regulatory bodies. This framework is likely to provide significant value for the assessments of extending the lifespan of floating assets, as calibrated safety factors can reduce the need for costly replacement and redesign of mooring components.
Fourth Phase of the NorMoor Project
The NorMoor project is currently in its fourth phase, focusing on the assessment methods for chain degradation and chain replacement criteria. The previous three phases have demonstrated that significant cost savings can be achieved while maintaining the required safety levels. For a 16-line mooring system, it is estimated that the savings for a two-year lifespan extension would be around 40 million Norwegian kroner, and for a five-year lifespan extension, around 100 million Norwegian kroner. This phase is expected to conclude by 2027 and is anticipated to enhance the industry's ability to assess aging mooring systems and optimize replacement strategies.
