The technology group Wartsila and Norwegian ship owner Eidesvik Offshore have signed a cooperation agreement aimed at converting an offshore supply vessel (OSV) to operate with an ammonia-fuelled combustion engine with fuel supply and safety system.
This project has a provisional completion target by the end of 2023.
The OSV considered for a retrofit currently has Wartsila dual-fuel engines operating primarily with LNG fuel. The conversion will allow the vessel to operate with a 70 percent ammonia blend. Wartsila has already laboratory tested an engine fuelled with a 70 percent ammonia blend. The goal is to achieve operation with 100 percent ammonia and with a minimum ignition fuel requirement.
“Using ammonia as a fuel is seen as a key future contributor to shipping’s energy transition, and we’re excited to be the first offshore ship owner taking this step,” said Eidesvik CEO & President, Jan Fredrik Meling.
“We are already well advanced in the development of ammonia as a viable marine fuel, and are actively working on other future carbon-free fuels as well. Our strong in-house competences are being utilised to support our commitment to decarbonising shipping,” said Hans Petter Nesse, Managing Director of Wartsila Norway.
Wartsila and Eidesvik are partners in the EU-funded ShipFC project to equip a platform supply vessel, the Viking Energy with a 2MW fuel cell running on green ammonia. The installation is scheduled to take place in late 2023.
