An equipment-supply deal will allow the conversion of an offshore platform provide vessel (PSV) to function with ammonia gas, in what’s described as a primary for this sort of vessel.
The contract was signed between Finnish agency Wärtsilä – which manufactures tools for the marine and power sectors – and Norwegian shipowner Eidesvik.
The vessel, ‘Viking Power’, which is on contract to power main Equinor, is scheduled for conversion in early 2026 and is predicted to start out working on ammonia within the first half of 2026, changing into the world’s first ammonia-fuelled in-service ship. Along with chartering the vessel Equinor contributes with financing for the conversion. Wärtsilä will then provide the engine and full gas fuel provide system and exhaust after-treatment wanted for the conversion, making it additionally the primary vessel to make use of Wärtsilä’s lately launched ammonia answer.
Ammonia is considered as a promising various gas because the transport {industry} seems to be to decarbonize. With new international laws having set a transparent vacation spot for transport – web zero emissions by mid-century – ammonia seems to be prefer it’s being primed to play a major position.
A latest report by Wärtsilä pertains to the position that sustainable fuels look more likely to play in reaching this goal which is ready by the Worldwide Maritime Group (IMO). In accordance with the report, present decarbonisation options, resembling gas effectivity measures, can lower transport emissions by as much as 27 %; nonetheless, sustainable fuels, resembling ammonia, will likely be a important step in eliminating the remaining 73 %.
On this context, Håkan Agnevall, President and CEO of Wärtsilä highlights the significance of cross-industry collaboration: “In simply 25 years – the lifetime of a single vessel – transport must get to web zero emissions. Attaining it will require coordinated motion by all maritime {industry} stakeholders to deliver concerning the system change wanted to simply accept a brand new era of sustainable fuels.
Wärtsilä, Eidesvik and Equinor have professed a shared a dedication to help the {industry}’s efforts to decarbonise. The conversion of the Viking Power is the most recent mission in a historical past of collaboration between the three firms. Viking Power is claimed to have a powerful file of demonstrating new environmental applied sciences.
Eidesvik was the world’s first shipowner to have an LNG-powered offshore platform provide vessel, which was powered utilizing Wärtsilä dual-fuel engine expertise. It additionally acquired the world’s first Battery Energy notation, given to Viking Power, for a battery system (put in additionally by Wärtsilä, because the agency’s announcement explains).
This newest partnership is a results of the ‘Apollo’ mission which is co-funded by the Horizon Europe framework programme. The programme goals to speed up the transition in the direction of a climate-neutral Europe by 2050 by funding initiatives, resembling Apollo, which contribute analysis and modern options in varied sectors associated to local weather, power and mobility.
“Shut collaboration all through the worth chain is vital to reach the inexperienced transition. Eidesvik has a novel historical past of pioneering the implementation of modern emission-reducing applied sciences, and we’re proud to spearhead yet one more groundbreaking mission along with Wärtsilä and Equinor,” stated Gitte Gard Talmo, CEO & President of Eidesvik Offshore.
Along with the Wärtsilä 25 Ammonia engine, Wärtsilä will provide the whole ammonia answer, together with its AmmoniaPac Gas Gasoline Provide System, the Wärtsilä Ammonia Launch Mitigation System (WARMS), and a selective catalytic discount (SCR) system designed for ammonia. A service settlement, overlaying upkeep, is a extremely important a part of the deal. The conversion mission is deliberate for early 2026, with last commissioning anticipated in Q2 2026.
