Norwegian shipping firm Eidesvik Offshore has added battery power to one of its LNG-powered platform supply vessels.
The dual-fueled 2012-built PSV Viking Prince left Norway’s Halsnoy yard last week following “a successful battery installation and the renewal of main class (DNV) with necessary docking,” according to a statement by Eidesvik.
Eidesvik did not provide any additional information regarding the system.
Out of the 12 vessels Eidesvik currently has in operation, Viking Prince is the tenth to receive battery power. The firm’s offshore vessel Acergy Viking would soon follow as the eleventh, it said.
Last year, Eidesvik won a new charter contract with compatriot energy firm Aker BP for the LNG-powered Viking Prince.
According to Eidesvik’s website, the offshore vessel owner has five LNG-powered PSVs in its fleet.
Eidesvik took delivery of its first LNG PSV Viking Energy back in 2003, becoming the first owner to introduce LNG as fuel for offshore vessels, it claims.
Since then, the firm worked on fuel cells and installing battery power to its LNG-powered PSVs.
In October, Eidesvik teamed up with Wartsila under a cooperation deal aimed at converting one of its LNG-powered vessels to go on ammonia. The conversion will allow the vessel to operate with a 70 percent ammonia blend.