Fitted with batteries and shore power, PSVs get Equinor long-term charters

That is the case for Havila Shipping’s platform supply vessels (PSVs) Havila Charisma and Havila Foresight, which were awarded three-year charters by Equinor. Both contracts include four one-year options and have a total framework of close to Nkr800M (US$90.5M) which includes options and costs related to Havila Charisma’s modifications.

Havila Charisma will be modified to support seismic services in the form of permanent reservoir monitoring. This includes increased accommodation capacity. The vessel’s capacities for supply duties will remain unchanged. Havila Charisma will sail from the supply base in Florø when it is not on seismic assignments.

“We have received safe and efficient deliveries from Havila Shipping for several years and look forward to continuing our co-operation with the shipping company,” said Equinor chief procurement officer Peggy Krantz-Underland.

“Long-term contracts bring predictability to both Equinor and our suppliers, and form the basis of continuous improvement,” added Ms Krantz-Underland.

The PSVs are part of a fleet of supply vessels supporting Equinor’s operations on the Norwegian continental shelf (NCS).

“The supply vessels along the entire Norwegian coast are the vital nerve of the more than 40 fields we operate on the NCS. By modifying Havila Charisma to provide seismic services in addition to supply services, we are utilising our scale advantage to achieve higher efficiency and flexibility in our operations,” said Morten Sundt, who is leading Equinor’s supply vessel activities on the NCS.

Havila Foresight has its home base at Equinor’s supply base at Mongstad. With the new contract Havila Foresight will have supplied Equinor’s installations from Mongstad for 15 years.

Both vessels have previously been fitted with a battery and adapted for shore power, which increases safety and reduces CO₂ emissions. All vessels on longer-term contracts for Equinor – about 20 vessels – have, or will have, a battery and a shore-power system within 2021.

Equinor said the two Havila vessels are among the most fuel-efficient vessels in its fleet of supply vessels. Previously the vessels have been modified to ensure safer operations on board, such as a heightened cargo rail on Havila Foresight’s loading deck.