Finnish expertise group Wärtsilä has signed a contract with Norwegian shipowner Eidesvik Offshore to transform the offshore platform provide vessel (PSV) ‘Viking Vitality’ to function on ammonia gas.
The vessel, presently beneath contract to Norwegian vitality main Equinor, is ready for conversion in early 2026. It’s anticipated to start working on ammonia within the first half of that 12 months, making it the world’s first ammonia-fuelled ship in lively service.
Wärtsilä will provide the engine, full gas gasoline provide system, and exhaust after-treatment wanted for the conversion.
The initiative comes because the transport trade seeks extra sustainable gas choices to satisfy new world rules aiming for net-zero emissions by mid-century. The conversion is anticipated to chop emissions from Viking Vitality by no less than 70 p.c.
Equinor and Eidesvik Offshore have collaborated on environmental expertise for Viking Vitality for over twenty years. When delivered in 2003, the vessel turned the world’s first LNG-fuelled platform provide vessel. It additionally earned the world’s first “Battery Energy” notation for its Wärtsilä-installed battery system.
“In simply 25 years – the lifetime of a single vessel – transport must get to web zero emissions. Attaining this may require coordinated motion by all maritime trade stakeholders to convey in regards to the system change wanted to just accept a brand new technology of sustainable fuels,” stated Håkan Agnevall, President and CEO of Wärtsilä.
Equinor is not going to solely use the vessel in operations but additionally contribute considerably to funding its conversion to ammonia operation. The undertaking will obtain €5 million in assist by the EU Horizon Europe programme.
“We’ve an ambition to halve the maritime emissions related to our Norwegian operations by 2030. With this contract, we are going to, in collaboration with Eidesvik Offshore, make use of a brand new low-emission expertise. We strongly consider in the usage of ammonia as a gas on our provide vessels,” says Ørjan Kvelvane, Equinor’s senior vp for joint operations assist.
“The offshore fleet on the NCS is ageing and desires renewal. Investing in new expertise is pricey, and there are numerous uncertainties. On the identical time, scaling up the usage of operational expertise to allow the mandatory transformation is pressing. Cooperation with the authorities and competent suppliers on phasing in latest expertise is important to attaining the emission targets we now have set,” added Kvelvane.
Wärtsilä will perform the mandatory conversion and set up of the brand new engine, full gas gasoline provide system, and exhaust after-treatment in 2026. Wärtsilä’s complete package deal for the Viking Vitality conversion consists of the Wärtsilä 25 Ammonia engine, AmmoniaPac Gasoline Fuel Provide System, Ammonia Launch Mitigation System (WARMS), and a specialised selective catalytic discount (SCR) system. The deal additionally encompasses a upkeep service settlement.
“Shut collaboration all through the worth chain is vital to achieve the inexperienced transition. Eidesvik has a singular historical past of pioneering the implementation of revolutionary emission-reducing applied sciences, and we’re proud to spearhead one more groundbreaking undertaking along with Wärtsilä and Equinor,” stated Gitte Gard Talmo, CEO & President of Eidesvik Offshore.
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