Hav Design to develop methanol-fuelled SOV

HAV Design will deliver both the ship design and an integrated equipment package including propulsion system, engines, propellers and positioning system. The total contract value is approximately NOK 200 million.

The main purpose of the SOV is to safely transfer technicians and spare parts to and from wind turbines and offshore substations.

The newbuild hybrid vessel is of HAV 833 SOV design. The vessel will be equipped with methanol-electric propulsion system, including a battery pack that allows very low to zero-emissions operations.

The SOV will be 93 metres long and 19.6 metres wide and will accommodate up to 124 persons.

ESVAGT has a fleet of more than 40 vessels. “This is the 10th SOV that ESVAGT is developing together with HAV Design. The long-term close cooperation with HAV Design will ensure the highest performance and efficiency, and always based on Safety First,” says Kristian Ole Jakobsen, DCEO in ESVAGT.

Hydrogen approval

Earlier in May 2022, HAV Group was been granted preliminary approval for the hydrogen-based energy system involving fuel cells developed in the FreeCO2ast project. The project is currently developing a high-capacity hydrogen energy system that can be retrofitted onboard one of Havila Kystruten’s coastal cruise ships.

The Norwegian Maritime Authority issued a statement of preliminary assessment which confirms that the alternative design is considered feasible and sound in accordance with IMO guidelines on alternative design (MSC.1/Circ.1455) and that the project is ready to advance into the final design phase.

HAV Hydrogen’s technology is therefore ready to enter the commercial stage where the company can start offering its products to the global maritime market.

Major project partners include Havila Kystruten and HAV Group’s subsidiaries HAV Design, Norwegian Electric Systems and HAV Hydrogen, in addition to the research institutions Sintef Ocean and Prototech. The fuel cell manufacturer Powercell and tank system supplier Linde Engineering have also contributed.