Wartsila Gets Orders for LNG Vessel Energy Storage

Finland's Wartsila announced on October 19 it had been hired by US marine transport firm Harvey Gulf to supply advanced energy storage systems to be retrofitted onto four LNG-fuelled platform supply vessels (PSVs).

Wartsila earlier fitted a fifth Harvey PSV with a storage system. Once the work is completed, the five vessels will be capable of full tri-fuel operation, "thus providing Harvey Gulf with the most flexible, fuel efficient class of PSVs in the Gulf of Mexico," the Finnish company said.

The vessels will have closed bus dynamic positioning capability, running only one engine augmented by Wartsila's systems. When stationary in the field or in port, they will be able to operate on battery power only, greatly reducing both fuel consumption and exhaust emissions.

"Wartsila is very pleased and proud to partner with Harvey Gulf in yet another ground-breaking project bringing technological advancement to the North American marine market," Wartsila said. "The combination of cutting edge technology, strong customer service, and Harvey Gulf’s market-leading business approach has resulted in a very successful partnership."

Each Wartsila storage system will comprise a closed bus-tie 1360-kW drive with 746-kWh 1100 VDC Batteries. Retrofitting will begin in 2021 and will be completed in early 2022.

Harvey Gulf specialises in providing offshore supply and multi-purpose support vessels for deep water operations in the US Gulf of Mexico, a major hub for the country's oil and gas production, as well as in the Caribbean, Africa and Alaska.

(picture courtesy of Wartsila)