WEROCK 2026 - 1st International Workshop on Challenges of Offshore Foundation Design on Weak Rocks
Friday, 9 October 2026 | Campus Ullevål, NGI, Oslo
Offshore wind development is increasingly moving into areas where shallow weak rocks are encountered. These conditions can present significant challenges for site investigation, sampling, laboratory testing, interpretation, numerical modelling, installation and foundation design.
The 1st International Workshop on Challenges of Offshore Foundation Design in Weak Rocks, organised by NGI through the Rock Off Strategic Research Project (SP16), will bring together researchers, offshore wind developers, contractors, consultants and geotechnical practitioners to exchange experience and discuss how offshore foundation design in weak rocks can be made more robust, transparent and practical.
The workshop is intended to create an open technical forum across disciplines, connecting recent offshore experience with established knowledge from rock mechanics, reservoir geomechanics, laboratory testing, numerical modelling and foundation engineering.
The current programme comprises three technical sessions followed by a panel discussion, with contributions spanning numerical modelling and design, broader rock and reservoir experience, industry/developer perspectives, and site investigation and characterisation.
Who should attend?
The workshop is intended for researchers and practitioners working with offshore wind, offshore geotechnics, engineering geology, rock mechanics, geotechnical site investigation, laboratory testing, numerical modelling, foundation engineering and related areas.
We particularly encourage participation from MSc and PhD students, postdoctoral researchers and early-career engineers and researchers interested in weak-rock behaviour and offshore foundation engineering.
Student participation
Registration is free of charge for MSc and PhD students, but registration is required.
We are also actively seeking external funding to provide limited travel support for participating MSc and PhD students. At present, this support is not yet confirmed and will depend on the outcome of an ongoing funding application.
Students who may require travel support are therefore encouraged to register and indicate their interest. Further information will be provided to registered students if funding becomes available.
