Flexible, low-emissions MPSVs are among the first newbuilds ordered at shipyards in Europe and Asia that can serve both offshore wind and offshore oil and gas
Amid a resurgent offshore energy market, Norwegian shipowners and a mysterious European buyer are the first movers in the OSV newbuildings, placing orders for large multipurpose support vessels (MPSVs) at Chinese, Norwegian and Turkish shipyards during Q1 2024.
The latest to take the plunge is Fosnavåg-headquartered Rem Offshore which inked a deal with Norwegian shipbuilder Myklebust Verft for a flexible, methanol dual-fuel battery hybrid-powered MPSV capable of supporting heavy construction for both the offshore wind and subsea sectors. Rem Offshore has ambitions of using green methanol in combination with batteries to propel the 116.5-m-long MPSV to meet future requirements for zero emissions offshore.
Rem Offshore chief executive, Lars Conradi Andersen, said the company’s first net-zero emissions vessel was “a big step into the future”.
This MPSV has all the bells and whistles associated with a next-generation offshore energy vessel, says Norwegian ship designer Skipsteknisk: “The newbuilding is ground-breaking and uses a number of solutions where energy consumption is almost halved compared to comparable tonnage in today’s market, as well as meeting future requirements for zero emissions.” All the vessel’s lifting equipment, including its 250-t offshore crane, will be electric, regenerating power back to the batteries.
Based on an ST 245 Energy Subsea Construction Vessel (ESCV) design, the newbuild will have a large clear deck area of 1,400 m2 and is prepared for a walk-to-work gangway. Rem Offshore will take delivery of the MPSV in 2026 and can exercise an option to build a second vessel.
“Energy consumption is almost halved compared to comparable tonnage”
This follows previous newbuild programmes announced by Eidesvik Offshore and Agalas, and an order in December by Norwegian-registered Hercules Supply for an 88-m, battery-hybrid MPSV from China’s Fujian Southeast Shipyard for delivery in Q4 2025.
Based on a Z 4423 MPSV design from naval architectural and marine engineering firm Breeze Ship Design, the newbuild OSV will have battery-hybrid propulsion, a moonpool and accommodation for 60.
New JV orders CSV
In February, Oslo-listed Eidesvik Offshore joined with newcomer Agalas in a joint venture to build a new construction support vessel (CSV) to perform inspection, maintenance and repair (IMR) work.
The JV, Eidesvik Agalas, will be majority owned by Eidesvik with 50.1% interest.
The newbuild was ordered from Turkey’s Sefine Shipyard at a cost of €81.5M (US$86.6M), with delivery set for early 2026. Eidesvik Agalas holds options for four additional vessels.
Upon completion the vessel is scheduled to start a three- to five-year time charter with Reach Subsea and be managed by Eidesvik.
Recent notable OSV newbuild orders | |||||
Vessel type | Length (m) | Design | Owner | Shipyard | Delivery |
MPSV | 88 m | Z 4423 | Hercules Supply | Fujian Southeast | Q4 2025 |
MPSV | 116.5 m | ST 245 ESCV | Rem Offshore | Myklebust Verft | 2026 |
CSV | 99.9 m | NSK Design | Eidesvik Agalas | Sefine Shipyard | Q1 2025 |
OCV | 97.2 m | Salt 0494 | Undisclosed | Wuchang Shipbuilding | 2026 |
Source: Offshore Support Journal |
“By renewing our fleet with a low emission, favourably priced and versatile vessel, we confirm our ability to deliver on our strategy. This vessel, along with the options for four additional vessels, will increase our capacity and competitive edge in the future energy mix,” says Eidesvik Offshore chief executive and president, Gitte Gard Talmo.
Designed by naval architectural firm NSK Ship Design, the CSV will have an overall length of 99.9 m, beam of 21 m, a clear deck area of 900 m2, with a 150-t AHC crane and accommodation for 100.
Mystery owner
Another Norwegian owner could be behind a contract for the construction of two offshore construction vessels (OCVs) at a Chinese yard. Salt Ship Design did not reveal who the mystery owner was when announcing it was designing the newbuilds for construction at China’s Wuchang Shipbuilding Industry Group, only noting they were for “an undisclosed, first-class European shipowner”. The Norwegian ship design house said the OCVs would be a further development of the Salt 305 design that was previously built by the shipyard.
Among the Salt 305 designs in operation are the multi-purpose support vessels Edda Savannah (ex Guo Hai Min An, ex Wu Chuan Shi and ex Toisa Resolute) and Edda Sphynx (ex Guo Hai Min Kang), according to UK ship valuations firm VesselsValue. Originally ordered for now liquidated Toisa Ltd, both Edda Savanah and Edda Sphynx are owned by Norway’s Ostensjo Rederi and have an overall length of 97.24 m, beam of 22 m, depth of 9.6 m, with a deadweight of 5,400 tonnes. The dynamic positioning class 2-capable vessels have diesel-electric propulsion, with two work class ROV hangars, 150-t active heave compensation crane and accommodation for 100.
In mid-April, Edda Sphynx was operating in the Norwegian North Sea, while Edda Savanah was in West Africa, according to AIS data tracking service VesselFinder.
These new OCVs will be based on a Salt 0494 OCV design and prepared for alternative fuel, and a large battery package, said the naval architect. Salt Ship Design is providing the detail design to the shipyard. It will be interesting to see if that alternative fuel turns out to be methanol, too.
If options are exercised, the undisclosed owner could build a total of four OCVs.
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