Offshore staff
HELSINKI, Finland – Siem Offshore Rederi has commissioned Wärtsilä to upgrade the platform supply vessel Siem Pride for hybrid engine and battery propulsion.
The upgrade will enable the vessel to reduce the number of engines in use during operations, thereby lowering its energy and fuel consumption.
Central to the conversion will be the Wärtsilä HY Module, which is a containerized solution on the deck of the vessel. The energy management system, which acts as the overall brain for the system, creates a high level of interaction with the ship’s other onboard systems. The installation will be connected to the existing 690-volt main switchboard. The engines in operation may run at up to 95% maximum continuous rating without risk of overloading or black-outs, Wärtsilä claimed.
Steven Gavshon, General Manager, Projects and Operations, Wärtsilä Marine Power, said: “When operating on electric power, there will be obvious savings in fuel costs and emissions. Furthermore, when in use, the ship’s engines may operate more on LNG, which further enhances the ship’s environmental sustainability.”
For the upgrade, Wärtsilä will supply the hybrid drive, energy management system, transformer, batteries, and switchboard modification. The dynamic-positioning system will also be upgraded, while the ship design will be modified for the new arrangement. A deck house containing the equipment will also be installed.
The upgrade is expected to be completed in April 2022, at which time the vessel will be awarded DNV’s Battery Power notation.
10/28/2021
