The following is text of a news release from SEACOR Marine Holdings:
(HOUMA, La.) — SEACOR Marine Holdings has completed the installation of the first hybrid power solution on an offshore supply vessel (OSV) in the Gulf of Mexico, following the upgrade of SEACOR Maya to hybrid lithium battery power propulsion.
After a series of successful sea and failure mode effect analysis trials, SEACOR Maya was issued its interim class certificate from the American Bureau of Shipping (ABS) with additional notation BATTERY-Li, the first ABS OSV to have this notation. SEACOR Maya is currently operated by Mantenimiento Express Maritimo, S.A.P.I. de C.V. (MexMar), SEACOR Marine’s joint venture in Mexico.
“The successful installation of a hybrid power solution along with the first-ever ABS OSV BATTERY-Li notation is a big milestone for our company,” said John Gellert, SEACOR Marine’s chief executive officer. “We have long believed that cutting-edge hybrid power technology has the potential to improve vessel efficiency, while reducing fuel consumption and emissions by as much as 20 percent. Early indications from sea trials of SEACOR Maya put us well within reach of this target and validate the success of our investment.
“The new hybrid lithium battery system will also help us improve safety, drive energy efficiencies and reduce our overall environmental impact. As governments tighten emissions standards, this technology will be a key competitive differentiator, leaving us well placed to take advantage of an upturn in the market.”
SEACOR Marine contracted with ABS, a leading global provider of classification and technical advisory services to the marine and offshore industries, in March to class SEACOR Maya as the first OSV in the Gulf of Mexico to operate using hybrid power. Following the vessel’s successful modification to hybrid lithium battery power propulsion, ABS provided the additional BATTERY-Li notation for SEACOR Maya in May. SEACOR Marine conducted the upgrade project at Bollinger Shipyards in Morgan City, La. Sea trials of the vessel were conducted in mid-May.
SEACOR Marine has also engaged with ABS to provide the additional BATTERY-Li notation on three additional OSVs operated by MexMar: SEACOR Azteca, SEACOR Warrior, and SEACOR Viking. The vessels are expected to be upgraded to a similar battery system as SEACOR Maya with the upgrade expected to be completed by September. SEACOR Marine will also install the technology on board six vessels under construction at COSCO shipyard in Guangdong. The first two vessels are due for delivery by the end of 2018, with the remaining vessels set for delivery in 2020.
The lithium-ion-based Orca Energy Storage Systems (ESS) for all four vessels in the Gulf of Mexico were supplied by Corvus Energy. Kongsberg Maritime designed the supply and integration of the hybrid power into the vessel’s control, power monitoring, and dynamic positioning systems. Corvus and Kongsberg are contracted for the remaining three vessels operated by MexMar as well.
