Latest round of Equinor PSV contracts puts ammonia fueling in the mix
Written by Nick Blenkey
Latest platform supply vessels contracted by Equinor include Stril Luna [Photo: Astilleros Gondan / Simon Møkster Shipping]
Norwegian energy giant Equinor yesterday awarded platform supply vessel (PSV) contracts for six ships to five shipowners. The contracts have a total value estimated at more than NOK 2.5 billion (about $235 million) including options and will support Equinor’s activities on the Norwegian Continental Shelf.
Equinor, whose majority shareholder is the Norwegian state, has long put an emphasis on reducing emissions from its oil and gas operations and this latest round of PSV contracts includes agreements to explore the modification of two of the six ships to ammonia-fueling. All six vessels either have, or will get, a battery installed for hybrid operations.
The six platform supply vessels will be managed by Simon Møkster Shipping AS, Island Offshore Management AS, Eidesvik AS, Remøy Shipping AS and P/F Skansi Offshore.
Vessels, owners and ship management:
- Island Crusader, Island Offshore VIII KS, Island Offshore Management AS
- Stril Luna, Simon Møkster Rederi AS, Simon Møkster Shipping AS
- Stril Mar, Simon Møkster Rederi AS, Simon Møkster Shipping AS
- Rem Hrist, Etta Shipowning Ltd, Remøy Shipping AS
- Kongsborg, Skansi Ship Invest P/F, P/F Skansi Offshore
- Viking Avant, Eidesvik MPSV AS, Eidesvik AS
The contracts will take effect before the end of 2022, have a three-year firm period and three one-year options.
The agreements include a requirement for the vessels to employ one cadet or ordinary seaman for each shift, as a recruitment contribution to the maritime industry.
In addition Equinor has extended a contract with Island Offshore Shipholding LP for four years, for Island Clipper, which is a combined platform supply vessel and walk-to-work vessel. Island Clipper has supported the Oseberg field in the past and is scheduled to also work on the Hywind Tampen offshore wind farm.
The vessels that are candidates for modification to ammonia fueling are the Island Crusader and Kongsborg. This will be carried out in two separate projects involving a number of sub-suppliers throughout the maritime industry. The overall goal is to reduce the CO2 emissions by up to 90 percent by use of ammonia fuel.
“We are pleased to secure contracts with suppliers which have a solid safety culture, and the necessary capabilities to ensure safe and efficient operations for Equinor,” says Mette H. Ottøy, chief procurement officer at Equinor. “Long-term commitments are mutually beneficial to Equinor and our suppliers. They ensure predictability and form the foundation for innovative solutions to improve on all aspects of our collaboration, including reduction of emissions from our operations.”
“We are dependent on supply vessels like these to support our more than 40 fields in operation on the Norwegian Continental Shelf (NCS), and we look forward to collaborating with the ship owners and crews for many years to come.” I am especially pleased that we are jointly investigating opportunities for further CO2 reductions,” says Ørjan Kvelvane, senior vice president for joint operations support at Equinor.
