Balltec said it has been awarded a contract by SOFEC, based in Houston, USA, for the design, manufacture, testing and delivery of twelve of its MoorLOK subsea mooring connectors.

The connectors, which will be subject to ABS certification are rated to 922 mT end of life minimum break load with a design life of 16 years and are due to be delivered in September, 2018,the company said.

The MoorLOK connectors will be used to moor a vessel for approximately 16 years in a water depth greater than 1,000 meters. Each anchor line of the vessel is made up of polyester rope with sections of studless chain at the connections to the vessel and the piles. The MoorLOK connectors when installed will connect the mooring lines to the piles.