Objective To improve the safety of wet-towing transportation for offshore wind power multi-bucket jacket foundations, it is necessary to explore the stability and dynamic response during the wet-towing transportation.

Methods A hydrodynamic model was constructed based on the offshore engineering analysis software MOSES, and frequency-domain analysis and time-domain analysis were performed on the wet-towing process. Quantitative analysis was also conducted on the influence of parameters such as wave loads and towing modes on the towing characteristics of the three-bucket jacket foundation.

Results Computational results show that the three-bucket jacket foundation has good wet-towing stability, and its upright floating state can meet the intact stability checking within a draft of 8−10 m. The amplitudes of towing force, pitching angle, heaving acceleration and air pressure in the bucket of the three-bucket jacket foundation are directly proportional to the wave height, have a linear relationship with draft, and show less influence. The amplitudes of towing force and air pressure in the bucket have no obvious relationship with the wave period, but the wave period will affect the amplitudes of pitching and heaving responses the foundation. The towing force is approximately proportional to the speed squared. The pitching motion of the three-bucket jacket foundation under the conditions of the stern sea is more severe than that under the cross sea.

Conclusion The research results have important guiding significance for improving the safety of wet-towing transportation of multi-bucket jacket foundations.