Aussie idea goes global

Technology from the Busselton shire could potentially help solve a multi-billion-dollar challenge to access offshore wind turbines.

Dunsborough-based research and development company Nauti-Craft’s marine suspension technology has been selected as a finalist in British company Carbon Trust’s Offshore Wind Accelerator Competition.

The competition aimed to identify and develop new access systems to improve the availability of wind turbines and the safety of people during the transfer to the turbines.

Nauti-Craft founder and inventor Chris Heyring said the local team of about six people had developed the technology, which allowed improved comfort and stability of the deck of a marine vessel.

The system would provide improved safety for crew transfers, increase passenger comfort, improved fuel efficiency and allow greater speed, he told the Times.

Mr Heyring said continued sponsorship of their research could allow the concept to be further developed, and service wind farms by safely and effectively transferring engineers to keep the turbines going.

“(Offshore wind) will be a global phenomenon in renewable energies, and this technology could aid this,” he said.

General manager Stuart Sibbald said Nauti-Craft was the only Australian company with the applicable technology for this project.

“We are exporting world-class intellectual property to the world from Dunsborough,” he said.