Lagos — A hybrid retrofit installation, featuring an energy storage solution from the technology group Wärtsilä, will significantly enhance the efficiency and environmental performance of the ‘Harvey Energy’, a platform supply vessel (PSV).

The vessel, which is owned by Louisiana, the USA based Harvey Gulf International Marine, is the first LNG fuelled – and will be the first hybrid retrofitted – PSV in the Americas. The order with Wärtsilä was booked in April 2019.

The installation of a Wärtsilä 1450 kW battery hybrid solution will reduce the ship’s exhaust emissions, fuel consumption, and noise level.

The overall fuel cost savings are expected to be in the range of 10 to 20 percent. The battery capacity will be sufficient to sail in and out of the harbor on electric power, while also providing hotel load electricity when docked, which will reduce noise and pollution levels in the harbor area.

Furthermore, the ability to operate on battery power will assist maneuvrability during critical dynamic positioning (DP) operations at the offshore platform.

Included in the solution are the Energy Storage System, the Energy Management System, the transformer and drive, all mounted within a single container.

The project will also include integration with the existing Wärtsilä Power Distribution, Power Management, and Integrated Automation Systems. The Wärtsilä equipment is scheduled for delivery in December 2019.

“We chose Wärtsilä as our partner several years ago due to their significant experience in LNG and dual-fuel engine technology, which fit very well with Harvey Gulf’s mission to have the most fuel-efficient environmentally friendly fleet of platform supply vessels in the Americas. When we decided to enhance these traits by installing hybrid technology, Wärtsilä was a natural choice,” says Shane Guidry, Chairman, and CEO of Harvey Gulf. “In addition, Wärtsilä’s excellent knowledge of our company and our business has resulted in very strong service support after the vessel delivery. This support has proven itself in zero unscheduled downtime on the five LNG fuelled PSV’s in Harvey Gulf’s fleet. We believe our mutual project will have a considerable impact in the market and will further the environmental drive towards sustainable solutions in the offshore market space.”

Wärtsilä’s Smart Marine technologies are making a notable contribution to meeting the global need for greater fuel efficiency and improved environmental performance, and this project is an important example of this commitment. We are pleased to be once again working in partnership with Harvey Gulf as they continue to promote efficient and sustainable shipping,” says Bill Amundsen, Wärtsilä North America’s Account Manager for Harvey Gulf.

Wärtsilä’s hybrid solutions are based on a ‘first-of-its-kind’ fully integrated hybrid power module.

This combines engines, an energy storage system using batteries, and power electronics optimised to work together through an innovative, Wärtsilä developed energy management system.

The solution marks a new benchmark in marine hybrid propulsion. While the ‘Harvey Energy’ will be the first PSV in the Americas to have a hybrid retrofit, Wärtsilä has already completed a number of hybrid retrofits for PSVs in Europe.