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Current offshore structural design guidance, knowhow and standards are based on Oil & Gas industry research conducted mainly in the 1970s and 1980s. Since that time, European Steel Fabricators have made significant advances in volume manufacturing processes and these along with improvements in steel performance, Quality Assurance and advanced structural analysis techniques promise lower cost, reliable steel structures for use in Wind, Wave and Tidal power. In addition, there are several fundamental differences between conventional offshore Oil & Gas structures and those used in the emerging offshore renewable energy sector, not least; the very large volume of similar structures, the unmanned nature of installations and the cost margins involved. These combined with improved capabilities of modern offshore fabrication and design demand a fresh perspective on the Guidance and Standards available to developers. This paper reviews the guidance available and identifies in particular fabrication, material improvement techniques and modelling approaches that may be useful in the design, operation and maintenance of Offshore Structures for Renewable Energy.

Design standards and guidance for offshore steel structures have evolved from the first comprehensive rules in the early 1970s primarily by API (American Petroleum Institute, 2002) and the UK Department of Energy which were developed specifically for the Oil & Gas industry. Although the Department of Energy guidance notes are no longer maintained (by the UK HSE) and were revoked in the late 1990s, these contain valuable knowledge which is largely preserved …