Maersk Supply Service AHTS to Get Hybrid Battery Conversion Treatment

Finnish technology group Wärtsilä has been selected to supply a Maersk Supply Service anchor handling tug with a hybrid battery system.

The conversion, a first for Maersk Supply Service, will support Maersk Group’s goal of reducing the carbon intensity of its fleet by half before the end of this decade. The order with Wärtsilä was placed in May 2021.

The hybrid power conversion will be carried out on the ‘Maersk Minder’, a deep water anchor handling tug supply (AHTS) vessel during the early part of 2022. The conversion is believed to be the world’s first AHTS hybrid battery conversion, targeting a 15% reduction in fuel consumption and associated carbon emissions.

“Maersk Supply Service is taking an active role in decarbonizing the offshore support vessel sector. This requires both behavioral changes in the way we operate our vessels, as well as technological upgrades to our fleet. With this Wärtsilä HY Module we are taking a significant step on our path to further reduce the emissions from our diesel-electric vessels,” says Mark Handin, COO, Maersk Supply Service.

The main system components will be the hybrid drive, the energy storage system (ESS), and transformer. Control and monitoring of the hybrid system is handled by the energy management system (EMS). Together, the system achieves peak shaving, spinning reserve, and significant efficiency improvement by running the engines at optimal load and using the batteries to absorb a large proportion of the load fluctuations, according to Wärtsilä.

Wärtsilä has also supplied the full engine room scope for this vessel, including the engines, thrusters, propeller arrangement, seals and bearings, as well as the integrated automation and planned maintenance systems.

“We share Maersk Supply Service’s decarbonization ambitions, and are fully committed to developing the products, systems, and integrated solutions needed to achieve these ambitions. The Wärtsilä HY Module is a prime example of this commitment. Its innovative design and extended battery life offers real benefits and will be a great fit for anchor handling tug supply vessels, as it already is for other vessel types,” said Kenneth Bang, Service Account Manager, Sales, Wärtsilä Marine Power.

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