Rem Offshore’s new IMR vessel has zero emissions in its future

Increasingly, batteries are becoming standard on offshore support vessel (OSV) newbuilds as stricter EU emissions regulations drive requirements to lower greenhouse gas emissions and owners look to save on fuel costs. Ships ordered now will most likely still be sailing in 2050 when Norwegian shipowners have plans to meet goals of zero emissions and Europe has ambitions to be climate neutral.

In one of the latest examples, Norwegian OSV owner Rem Offshore and shipbuilder Myklebust Verft have selected Haf Power Solutions (HPS) as the power system integrator for a new methanol dual fuel-battery hybrid inspection, maintenance, and repair (IMR) vessel.

Designed by Skipsteknisk, the the ST-245 design IMR vessel Rem Ocean will be powered by a combination of biomethanol, biodiesel and batteries, reducing emissions by up to 90% compared to traditional marine fuel, according to the Norwegian owner.

Being built by Myklebust Verft, Rem Ocean is a further development of the ST-245 ESCV Rem Pioneer ordered from the Norwegian shipyard for delivery in 2026.

Methanol and batteries

Designed around ambitious environmental goals, Rem Ocean will be equipped with dual-fuel methanol engines in combination with battery packs. Additionally, all its offshore lifting equipment will be fully electric and will regenerate power back to the batteries.

With an overall length of 111.7 m, beam of 23 m, a clear deck of 1,000 m2, a 350 m² indoor hangar, and accommodation for 120, Rem Ocean will be a highly capable IMR vessel maximising operational performance and seaworthiness. For maintenance and inspections on subsea installations, the vessel will be equipped with a 250-t heavy-duty, electric-powered crane, modular handling systems, and six electric underwater robots (ROVs). It will be capable of operating in wave heights up to 6 m and is classified for year-round operation in ice-covered waters.

Part of the ACEL Group, Haf Power Solutions is supplying its cLion DC Grid, Li-Ion batteries, permanent magnet propulsion and thruster motors, auxiliary generator and cControl PMS/EMS.

Rem Offshore head of projects, Kristian Stavset, said the technology “will be optimal for demanding IMR operations,” and enable “future requirements for zero-emission operation.”

Myklebust Verft chief commercial officer, Bjørn Harald Norvik, noted, “The choice of the cLion DC Grid from HPS for yet another vessel underlines the confidence in both the technology and our established collaboration with HPS.”

When delivered in 2027, Rem Ocean will be deployed on the Norwegian continental shelf under a landmark contract secured with Equinor. Rem Offshore in collaboration with subsea services provider DeepOcean has secured a “record-breaking” eight-year, Nrk1Bn (US$90.5M) IMR contract with the Norwegian oil and gas major. This eight-year charter agreement includes additional extension options.

“The charter agreement with DeepOcean is the largest in Rem’s history, increasing our order backlog to nearly Nrk6Bn (US$542.7M),” said Rem Offshore chief executive Lars Conradi Andersen.

Remote operation and drone technology

DeepOcean Europe managing director Olaf A. Hansen said the vessel “will be optimised for remote operations, facilitating for reduced need for marine and project crews offshore. DeepOcean also reported Rem Ocean will be equipped with an autonomous inspection drone, accelerating the digitalisation of subsea asset inspection.

DeepOcean COO Ottar Kringen Mæland described the ship as "the next generation subsea vessel,” noting the collaboration with Rem Offshore was “pivotal for implementing the latest subsea technology, making it an efficient future-oriented solution.”