viking energy – Norwegian supply ships go gas powered

The Norwegian offshore industry achieved a remarkable double event in 2003 with the delivery of the world?s first two gas-driven cargo carrying ships.

These platform supply vessels were ordered by the shipping companies Eidesvik AS and M?kster Shipping and are on a 10-year charter to Norway?s state-owned Statoil. Eidesvik took the initiative for, and headed the development of, the gas-driven ship concept in close cooperation with Statoil. It

is aimed at limiting emissions from the Norwegian maritime industry.

The three-year project culminated with Kleven Verft in Ulsteinvik, Norway, being awarded the building contract for this duo.

The first unit, delivered towards the end of April last year and named Viking Energy, is the

realisation of ship owner Eidesvik?s vision that gas-fuelled support

vessels could provide a useful

contribution to reducing exhaust emissions. Like the Stril Pioner,

the sister ship owned and operated by Simon M?kster and delivered in August, this vessel is is based on the VS 4403 design from Vik-Sandvik.

These 94 metre long by 20.4 metre beam supply vessels have a deadweight of 6,013 tonnes at

summer draught of 7.90 metres, and are fitted with a Kongsberg Simrad DP2 dynamic positioning system.

Eidesvik?s project leader, Torleif Kvandal, reported that after one month?s service, both owners and crew were satisfied with the Viking Energy. Kvandal said :”The ship has run on gas the whole time, apart from one occasion when diesel had to be used for part of a voyage as there was not enough time to bunker LNG.

Most of the anxieties about operating on gas have turned out to be groundless. The engines and propulsion system work well, with only minor adjustments to the automatic dual-fuel system on the engines necessary. Feedback from the crew on board is very positive, with regard to both working conditions and, not least, environment.”

He said that comments included: “light and classy interior, and a noise level which is significantly lower than earlier vessels of this type” and “this is a whole new world when it comes to

comfort”.

The Viking Energy was featured in the June 2003 issue of The Motor Ship.