Eidesvik Offshore’s platform supply vessel (PSV) Viking Energy has entered the dock at Halsnøy Dokk to start conversion to ammonia-powered operations.
The conversion is planned to be completed in autumn, when the 95-meter-long vessel will continue operating for Equinor, with whom it has been on continuous contract since delivery in 2003 .
Work to be carried out includes prefabrication of steel and piping systems, major structural modifications, installation and integration of a new ammonia dual-fuel engine, ammonia tank and fuel systems, and technical upgrades.
Wärtsilä Marine will deliver its 25 dual-fuel engine capable of operating on ammonia and marine gas oil, while Breeze Ship Design is responsible for ship design and engineering. The design package also received a preliminary assessment from the Norwegian Maritime Authority .
The conversion is said to have the potential to reduce greenhouse gas emissions by 70% or more.
According to Eidesvik, upon completion of the retrofit, Viking Energy will be the first offshore vessel to be able to operate on ammonia, and this is the first actual project in the industry testing out ammonia as fuel for a vessel in normal operation.
“This milestone represents a decisive step forward in advancing low-emission offshore operations and demonstrates how industrial partnerships can accelerate the energy transition at sea,” Eidesvik Offshore said. “With the potential to significantly reduce greenhouse gas emissions, this project highlights how industrial partnerships, technology and operational experience can come together to accelerate the energy transition at sea.”