Knutsen NYK Offshore Tankers’ (KNOT) shuttle tankers will feature battery technology, in addition to a wide range of ABB’s electric solutions
ABB Marine & Ports has secured a contract from Daewoo Shipbuilding & Marine Engineering to deliver the power and control technology for two new KNOT shuttle tankers. This will future-proof the vessels and enable the sustainability gains increasingly sought by energy majors.
The energy storage system was added at the request of the exploration and production company Vår Energi, who contracted KNOT to operate the shuttle tankers. The system will improve ship performance by optimising engine responsiveness, whatever the load.
KNOT project manager Tom Knutsen said, “We have been fully aware of charterers’ increased requirement for sustainability, so it was very important that our first commitment to battery power involved a supplier with a track record of delivering quality, safety and reliability to Knutsen, as well as service and remote expert support.”
“ABB has significant experience in shipboard energy storage systems, and we are pleased that, on top of cutting emissions, this technology will also reduce opex.”
Built to endure harsh Arctic waters, the pair of 124,000-dwt tankers are set be delivered by Daewoo Shipbuilding & Marine Engineering in 2022. The newbuild vessels will operate in the North Sea.
ABB’s scope of supply will also include the shaft generator system, main switchboards, thruster and cargo pump drive systems, and take care of project management, commissioning and sea trials.
The ABB twin battery package on board each Knutsen ship will have a storage capacity of 678 kWh. The energy storage system will be able to ramp up engine responsiveness by working with the ABB MV AC system to control and optimise shaft generator power flexibility.
The enhanced dynamic support for the energy storage system will be crucial in the event of sudden load changes, peak loading, including the specific demands of station keeping and cargo pump operations.
Being able to call on the integrated energy storage system improves operational flexibility but also means auxiliaries are needed less frequently, and sometimes not at all, saving fuel and reducing emissions. Battery power may therefore offer a new competitive edge where ships are being replaced or upgraded. In a circular approach, when the shaft generator has produced more power than required, the excess power will be used to charge batteries.
“We are proud to once again deliver safe and efficient solutions to Knutsen to assist them in achieving their sustainability goals,” said ABB Marine & Ports division president Juha Koskela. “Our shuttle tanker offering ensures that current and future operating goals can be met, and emissions targets can be reached.”
Meet the latest in tanker operations technology at the Tanker Shipping & Trade | Americas 1-2 February 2021. Book now to avoid disappointment.
Sign up to attend Riviera’s upcoming series of free operational and technical webinars on our events page
You can view all the previous webinars, in full, in our webinar library
© 2023 Riviera Maritime Media Ltd.