Offshore vessels roundup: Lloyd's Register, Kongsberg, Suardiaz and more issue vessel project updates
The following compilation highlights the latest vessel news and project updates of the offshore energy industry.
Kongsberg to equip Bibby Marine's electric vessel
Kongsberg Maritime will supply integrated equipment for Bibby Marine’s new eCSOV, said to be the world’s first fully-electric offshore service vessel.
The Armon shipyard in Asturias, northern Spain, will construct the hybrid vessel, which is designed to operate entirely on electricity for 24 hours, supplied by Corvus Energy’s 25-MWh Blue Whale lithium iron phosphate battery energy storage system.
Kongsberg Maritime’s package will integrate with the battery system and optimize the use of energy. The company will provide fully electric rim-drive propulsion with azimuth and tunnel thrusters, an automation system, fully electrical control system, dynamic positioning and thruster control.
The eCSOV will have engines running purely for charging, with a view to optimizing efficiency, extending battery life and reducing emissions. A DC grid setup should minimize energy losses, with the offshore charging systems enabling simultaneous battery charging and dynamic positioning.
The vessel should be delivered in 2027.
Lloyd's Register, Tidewise ink agreement for USV subsea inspections
Lloyd’s Register has issued approval in principle (AiP) to Brazilian company TideWise for its 24-m-long uncrewed surface vessel (USV) for subsea inspections. It is designed to operate in harsh conditions, with various innovations in autonomous navigation, obstacle detection and collision avoidance.
The AiP delivers confirmation of the vessel’s structural integrity, stability and compliance with control system standards.
The DP2 vessel, with an endurance of 35 days, can deploy a work-class electric ROV in water depths of up to 2,500 m. It is powered by a hybrid diesel-electric system and designed for potential migration in future to hydrogen, reducing carbon emissions.
SUARDIAZ Group christens new subsea vessel
SUARDIAZ Group's SUARDIAZ Energy division has staged a naming ceremony for the newly built offshore service vessel RS Alegranza at the Astander shipyard in Cantabria, northern Spain.
Representatives attended from Fugor, the vessel’s future charterer.
RS Alegranza will undergo harbor and sea acceptance tests (DP FNEA 2 and station keeping) to ensure compliance with offshore dynamic positioning standards.
It will then start operations in the North Sea.
MOL, Fukada ink MoU on T&I vessels for floating wind turbines
Mitsui O.S.K. Lines Ltd. (MOL) and Fukada Salvage & Marine Works Co. Ltd have signed a memorandum of understanding to explore collaboration on transportation and installation (T&I) vessels for floating offshore wind turbines.
Floating offshore wind turbines are normally assembled at a port and then towed to the installation site. After being towed to the installation site, their position is maintained by a mooring system consisting of anchors and mooring lines. This series of towing and mooring operations requires work vessels such as anchor handling vessels. These efforts aim to provide not only construction services by vessels but also comprehensive services including the procurement of mooring systems through domestic and international cooperation.
MOL says it will continue to support power generation companies so they can proceed with ease without the interface risks associated with the procurement of construction vessels and mooring systems.
MOL and Fukada have begun the study of T&I methods for floating offshore wind turbines and aim to establish a joint ownership and operation system for new vessels suitable for T&I of floating offshore wind turbines as well as a procurement framework for mooring systems.
Prosafe sells semisub vessel for $5 million
Prosafe SE, through a wholly owned subsidiary, has agreed to sell its 2005-built Safe Concordia accommodation, safety and support semisubmersible vessel to an undisclosed party for a gross price of $5 million before commissions and expenses.
The vessel is expected to be delivered to its new owner upon completion of her current charter obligations, within a window of March through June 2025.
SBM assessing potential for carbon capture modules on Petrobras floaters
Petrobras has commissioned SBM Offshore to perform a study concerning potential use of carbon capture modules on FPSOs.The module design is based on a DNV-qualified engineering and design program conducted by SBM Offshore and Mitsubishi Heavy Industries (MHI). This was based on MHI’s proprietary CO2 capture technology and SBM Offshore’s Fast4ward approach to FPSO design and construction. Petrobras is interested in the potential of the compact modular solution for reducing emissions associated with oil and gas production from FPSOs. Read more.
Floatel semisub vessel to begin services in summer 2026
Floatel International's letter of intent with an undisclosed North Sea client for Floatel Superior to provide services during summer 2026 has been converted to a firm contract.
Floatel Superior is a semisubmersible accommodation and construction support vessel. The assignment is scheduled to begin in second-quarter 2026 and is for three months with one option month. The company said an available option period may be extended depending on the start date for the Aker BP Yggdrasil charter.
Mooring service addresses shortage of subsea crane vessels
Kongsberg Maritime has devised a mooring service said to expand the capabilities of offshore construction vessels (OSCVs).
It involves integrating a purpose-designed anchor-handling winch, shark jaws and stern rollers into the design of newbuild vessels, allowing them to take on more tasks independently.
The service, which the company claims could address the lack of vessels capable of large-scale mooring installations, is said to enable OSCVs to undertake a wider range of mooring operations, extending the operational window and limiting the requirement to bring in further vessels at the field. Read more.
Svanehøj supplying pumps for North Sea Project Greensand CO2 carrier
INEOS has contracted Svanehøj to provide CO2 cargo pumps for the Project Greensand carbon capture and storage (CCS) development in the Danish North Sea. These will be for the onshore CO2 terminal in Port Esbjerg and the liquefied CO2 (LCO2) carrier that will transport the LCO2 to the North Sea for injection in the depleted Nini field. Subsurface storage could start by the end of this year.
Royal Wagenborg is constructing the LCO2 carrier. This is based on the EasyMax concept, an open-top ice-classed vessel design, said to combine a large load-carrying capacity with low fuel consumption. The completed vessel should be ready for operation by the end of 2025. Read more.
