This is the author accepted manuscript. The final version is available from EWTEC via the link in this record.The motion and mooring tensions of a scaled-down PLAT-O#2 physical model were measured in axial currents at FloWave, Edinburgh. At high flows, the platform ‘squats’ – moves in an arc motion along the upstream lines and about their anchors – to a stable lower depth. The compliance improves load share and survivability in extreme seas. To further investigate the squatting motion, the tested set-up is simulated ‘like-for-like’ in ProteusDS software. The modelled and measured trends, motion and line loads, are comparable. A significant lift force is identified with further work focused on estimating it at sea.The Author would also like to thank Sustainable Marine Energy for initiating, supervising and part funding this research; the IDCORE Sponsors - Energy Technologies Institute (ETI) and Engineering and Physical
Sciences Research Council (EPSRC) funding EP/J500847/1;and Dynamic Systems Analysis for support with ProteusDS
