Arctic Hybrid PSV Promises 30-40% Fuel Savings

by Ship & Bunker News Team
Thursday April 17, 2014

Havyard Group SA (Havyard) of Norway says it will build a diesel-electric hybrid battery-powered platform supply vessel (PSV) capable of operations in Arctic conditions for Icelandic offshore shipping company Fafnir Offshore.

Between its hybrid system and an efficient hull design, the NOK350 million ($59 million) Havyard 833 WE ICE promises to reduce fuel use by 30 to 40 percent compared with a traditional PSV design.

It will be built at Havyard Ship Technology's shipyard in Leirvik, Sogn, Norway and is scheduled for delivery in July 2015.

The changes in power requirements of PSVs in different conditions makes them good candidates for hybrid battery systems, according to Arve Helsem Leine, design manager of Havyard Design & Solutions.

"With hybrid battery power you can constantly operate diesel generators at an optimal level," Leine said.

"When energy demands vary you can either charge or discharge batteries, depending on whether the energy demands are lower or higher than the capacity of diesel generators in operation.

"Response time in relation to variation in power demands is also a lot shorter, so there is a quicker transfer of power to the ship`s thrusters which ensures a more precise and secure positioning, for example in operations by an offshore rig."

DNV GL has predicted that battery power will grow in importance for short-sea shipping applications in the coming years.