In addition to the concerns already raised here, one other thing stuck out to me: the whole system is easier to manufacture, build, and maintain. Heggheim says it has a design lifespan of 50 years

My naive feeling is that it's extraordinarily difficult to design for 50 year lifespan in an environment as hostile as the North Sea. This isn't a naval vessel. You can't just keep slapping fresh coats of paint over everything.

Am I wrong? Wouldn't salt ions, seawater, trace sea minerals, etc eventually just permeate everything?