Norwegian firm gets work on new vessel for Europe’s huge gas project

Norway-headquartered Norwegian Electric Systems (NES), a subsidiary of HAV Group, has been tasked with developing and delivering a complete energy design, an integrated automation system, and its future-oriented bridge system for a field support vessel a Norwegian shipyard is constructing for a giant gas project operated by Romania’s integrated energy player OMV Petrom.

Thanks to its contract with Green Yard Kleven in Ulsteinvik, Norway, NES will equip the newbuild field support vessel destined to operate at OMV Petrom’s Neptun Deep gas project with frequency converters and electric motors for the propulsion system, battery system, transformers, and its proprietary Quadro Master switchboard, which is a DC power distribution switchboard that enables the use of variable speed generators.

Hans Jørgen Fedog, General Manager at Green Yard Kleven, noted: “We are happy to have NES with us on this important contract, and we are really looking forward to the collaboration. We rely on partnerships with suppliers such as NES who can challenge us and ensure predictable project execution.”

According to the NES, the Quadro Master is supported by its Odin’s Eye, enabling a DC-ring system configuration. The company will also deliver its integrated automation system – IAS – and its own navigation system, RAVEN INS, with a closed bus tie (CBT) notation. The first deliveries are slated to be made in the second quarter of 2025, with final deliveries and commissioning expected to be undertaken in the second quarter of 2026.

Siv Remøy-Vangen, Managing Director of Norwegian Electric Systems, commented: “According to DNV, closed bus-ties have emerged as a viable solution to enhance energy efficiency. These allow the integration of DP power systems and reduce the number of generator sets that need to run simultaneously.

“This leads to optimized power-sharing, reduced fuel consumption and emissions, fewer engine hours, and lower maintenance costs. Additionally, a system with active and reactive power-sharing across bus ties can mitigate and reduce the consequences of certain failure modes.”

The ship, due for delivery in the second half of 2026, will be an 89.5-meter-long multihull vessel, with a walk-to-work (W2W) walkway, offshore crane, and furnishings for 90 people in single cabins. The Neptun Deep project is said to be the largest natural gas development in the Romanian sector of the Black Sea and the first deepwater offshore project in Romania.

Remøy-Vangen added: “Green Yard Kleven has taken over what is one of Norway’s oldest shipyard including a long track record and delivery of high quality vessels. To see newbuilding activity again at their facilities in Ulsteinvik is a true joy.

“In addition, Green Yard Kleven has an ambitious target of being the greenest alternative in the industry. I therefore consider being chosen as key supplier for this project to be a recognition of NES’ sustainability profile and our role as enabler of green transition at sea.”

After MV Petrom confirmed its plans to develop the $4.4 billion Neptune Deep deepwater gas project, environmental activists intensified their efforts to stop the project with Greenpeace holding a rally at the firm’s headquarters in Bucharest against the project to urge the energy industry to move away from drilling for more gas and embrace the transition to renewables.

The gas development entails the Domino and Pelican South fields and is a 50:50 partnership between the operator, OMV Petrom, and Romgaz, Romania’s producer and main supplier of natural gas. The drilling operations are expected to be carried out with one of Transocean’s rigs.

Located approximately 160 kilometers from the shore, in waters between 100 and 1,000 meters, the 7,500 square km, Neptune Deep block in the Black Sea is anticipated to achieve the first gas in 2027, with the production of around 8 bcm annually or about 140,000 boe/d for almost ten years.