A team of four researchers – Alexander Kochnev, Joaquín Liaudat, Jan Machaček and Hauke Zachert – represented our institute at the 5th International Symposium on Frontiers in Offshore Geotechnics (ISFOG 2025), held from 9 to 13 June 2025 in Nantes, France. ISFOG is one of the leading international conferences in the field of offshore geotechnical engineering.

Our institute contributed six scientific papers presenting recent research on physical model tests and numerical simulations:

Blind Prediction Contest

• Blind Prediction Contest: Piles under Monotonic and Cyclic Lateral Loading
• GEOLAB Blind Prediction Contest: Winning Methods for Predicting Pile Behaviour under Monotonic and Cyclic Lateral Loading

Pile Foundations under Multi-Axial Loading

• Measurement of soil response to laterally loaded piles using distributed fibre optic sensing
• Floating wind turbine anchor piles under lateral multidirectional cyclic loading: experimental investigation

Suction Caissons

• Numerical Investigations on the Long-Term Behaviour of Suction-Caisson Foundations under High-Cyclic Loading

Monopiles

• Forecasting the Long-term Performance of Monopiles in Sand: Influence of the Constitutive Model and Drainage Conditions

A particular highlight was the award ceremony of the Blind Prediction Contests, which was organised by our team and held on the first day of the conference. In this international challenge, 18 academic and research teams submitted predictions of the load–displacement behaviour of a single pile subjected to monotonic and cyclic lateral loading. The contest provided valuable insight into the current capabilities and limitations of predictive methods and marked an engaging start to the symposium.

We thank the organisers of ISFOG 2025 for an excellently coordinated event and the stimulating technical exchange with the international offshore geotechnical community.

We would also like to extend our sincere thanks to the sponsors of the Blind Prediction Contest – BAUER, Implenia, KELLER, and ZÜBLIN – whose generous support enabled us to cover the conference participation costs for the winning teams. Their contribution not only recognised the achievements of the winners, but also helped to foster broader international engagement within the offshore geotechnical community.