Equinor seeks OSV owners to implement future fuels

The Norwegian state-run energy group will work in partnership with innovative owners to cut emissions from supplying its offshore production platforms and drilling rigs.

Equinor advisor for low and zero-carbon logistics solutions Steffen Lofnes said ammonia would be a useful fuel for OSVs and should be implemented across the platform supply fleet by 2030.

He expects ammonia to be readily available in Norwegian ports, and offshore vessels could be easily adapted for this fuel.

He was interviewed at Riviera Maritime Media’s Maritime Hybrid, Electric & Hydrogen Fuel Cells Conference 2023 in Bergen, Norway,

Mr Lofnes expects new business models, including longer term contracts, between Equinor and vessel owners will emerge to facilitate the investment required.

“We have come to the limit where all of the low-hanging fruit has been reached, and we are looking for something which can get us to where we want to be in 2030,” he said.

This includes combining energy efficiencies with retrofitting vessels and building new ships to operate on future fuels. Mr Lofnes outlines how Equinor will work with vessel owners to reach its net-zero and zero-emissions targets.