IOWTC 2025 – Optional Tours in Toulon, France. Ahead of the IOWTC 2025 conference, the organizers are pleased to offer a selection of complimentary tours for registered attendees on October 27, 2025. While these tours are free of charge, advance registration is required to reserve your spot.
Registration for Tours will open soon! **Late August**
IFREMER Site Visit – La Seyne-sur-Mer
Expertise in floating offshore wind energy in the Mediterranean
Located in Toulon Bay, the IFREMER site in La Seyne-sur-Mer is a key Mediterranean research hub dedicated to marine science. It plays a strategic role in the development of marine renewable energies, particularly floating offshore wind.
Main areas of expertise:
- Marine environment characterization: geotechnics, currents, waves, wind, ocean modeling
- Instrumentation and monitoring: sensor development, field measurements, underwater noise, biodiversity
- Coastal and offshore engineering: ROVs, equipment testing, instrumented platforms
Facilities include:
- A testing basin and specialized workshops
- Sea measurement platforms and coastal vessels
- Easy access to potential offshore test zones in the Mediterranean
IFREMER actively supports floating wind projects through scientific expertise, infrastructure, and partnerships with industry, public authorities, and research networks.
OCEANIDE Site Visit
Hydrodynamic engineering and model testing – South France Ocean Basin
OCEANIDE is an independent SME based in southern France. For over 25 years, it has operated the South France Ocean Basin, a world-renowned test facility specialized in hydrodynamic model testing.
The facility is particularly suited for:
- Floating and bottom-fixed offshore wind turbines (FOWT, FOSS)
- Complex marine operations
- Research on mooring systems and power cables
Key features:
- Simultaneous emulation of waves, currents, and wind
- Adjustable water depth (up to 5 m)
- Significant dimensions ensuring minimal wall effects and cost-effective testing
Over 45 offshore wind-related campaigns have been conducted, including:
- Provence Grand Large (SBM TLP floater – EDF EN / SBM)
- EolMed (BW Ideol floater – QAIR / BW IDEOL)
- Erebus (PPI semi-sub floater – Blue Gem Wind / PPI)
- And many innovative concepts (Gazelle Wind Power, BlueTwin, GE semi-sub in 1000 m depth, X1Wind, BW Ideol 16 MW, MonobaseWind MSPAR, GustoMSC Tri-Floater…)
Most recently, OCEANIDE completed the Beefore R&D project under the French "France 2030" investment program, using the VolturnUS floater.
The project focuses on real-time hybrid modelling (Software-in-the-Loop via OrcaFlex) to simulate wind loads on the RNA during tests.
Both the South France Ocean Basin and the Beefore project will be featured during a side event at IOWTC 2025.