SEACOR Marine Holdings has announced plans to convert four platform supply vessels (PSVs) to hybrid battery power.
The company on Thursday announced it a deal to acquire the energy storage systems for the conversions from Kongsberg Maritime AS.
The four PSVs included in the conversion plan are the SEACOR Ohio, SEACOR Alps, SEACOR Andes, and SEACOR Atlas. The conversion process is set to begin in December 2024 and is expected to be completed by the second quarter of 2025. Once the conversions are completed, over half of SEACOR Marine’s PSVs will be powered by hybrid systems.
The conversion will involve equipping the vessels with a containerised Deckhouse Energy Storage System and associated switchboards and thruster control systems. The upgrade will also include replacing the current Dynamic Positioning (DP) system on all four vessels with a new Kongsberg Maritime K-Pos DP system.
Installing battery power can reduce fuel consumption in DP operation mode on the vessels by up to 20%. The conversion will also include a shore connection allowing for power grid connection while in port, significantly reducing engine running hours and diesel fuel emissions.
“The key benefit of having battery power instantly available is to maintain the redundancy of the vessels’ power system, with less engines running. This is particularly useful when operating in DP mode, but also has its value in other operational modes,” explains James Poulton, Kongsberg Maritime, Senior Vice President, Aftermarket Sales.
Kongsberg Maritime will also upgrade the SEACOR Yangtze with the Deckhouse Energy Storage System in February 2024 at Ulsteinvik, Norway.
“Our decision to expand our hybrid fleet aligns with SEACOR Marine’s core values of innovation and environmental stewardship and builds upon our record of leadership in adopting green technologies in the maritime sector,” said John Gellert, SEACOR Marine’s Chief Executive Officer. “SEACOR Marine was one of the first offshore operators to install battery hybrid systems, and this announcement marks a significant step in our ongoing efforts to enhance operational efficiency and reduce the environmental impact of our fleet.”
“SEACOR Marine’s Transition to Hybrid Power: Conversion of Four Vessels Begins in 2024”
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