OSV owner goes hybrid to attract charterers, reduce emissions

With the retrofits, Norwegian operator Østensjø Rederi’s OCVs Edda Fauna and Edda Flora will reduce use of ship engines and cut exhaust emissions while operating in dynamic positioning (DP) mode as well as in all other operational modes, and 2013-built platform supply vessel (PSV) Edda Ferd will be upgraded with shore power.

“We are seeing more and more shore power facilities in ports everywhere we go,” said Østensjø Rederi chief project officer Egil Arne Skare.

“We of course must be part of that development. We are talking about simple modifications”, he said, adding the environmental benefits result in 100% emisions reduction when shore power is supplied from a renewable source.

Each of the OCVs will be retrofitted with an integrated hybrid power module from Wärtsilä, with a new electronic DC bus-link, allowing a vessel to operate in DP 2 and 3 modes with a closed DC bus in hybrid, and an open bus on the AC system. The reduced running of the engines saves fuel and lessens the carbon footprint, while engine maintenance requirements are also alleviated.

“We intend to be a shipping company that leads in sustainable operations,” said Mr Skare.

Explaining why the company chose the hybrid propulsion upgrade, he said, “Today’s carbon footprint is to be reduced through systematic efforts and continued technical development at all levels.”

Wärtsilä will deliver the equipment to both vessels in January 2021.

The upgrades are being backed by funding from the Norwegian government enterprise Enova.

Wärtsilä’s integrated hybrid power module combines the engines, an energy storage system, and power electronics optimised by an energy management system (EMS).

The EMS functions as the ‘brain’ in the Wärtsilä Hybrid System optimising the energy flows between the different power sources, storage and consumers to achieve the highest efficiency possible.