Equinor has signed a contract with Eidesvik Offshore for the conversion of the Viking Energy supply vessel to ammonia operation. The vessel will be fully converted and put into operation with low emissions in 2026.
The vessel supplies Equinor's installations on the Norwegian continental shelf (NCS).
Viking Energy will be the world's first supply vessel fuelled by ammonia. Wärtsilä will build the engine on behalf of Eidesvik Offshore.
'We have an ambition to halve the maritime emissions associated with our Norwegian operations by 2030. With this contract, we will, in collaboration with Eidesvik Offshore, employ a new low-emission technology. We strongly believe in the use of ammonia as a fuel on our supply vessels,' says Ørjan Kvelvane, Equinor's senior vice president for joint operations support.
Converting the vessel to ammonia operation Eidesvik Offshore and Wärtsilä will cut emissions from Viking Energy by at least 70 percent. Equinor and Eidesvik Offshore have a 21-year history of collaboration on environmental technology on Viking Energy.
At the time of delivery in 2003, the vessel was the world's first LNG-fuelled supply vessel. The vessel was also the first in the world to receive DNVs «Battery Power» notation.
In addition to using the vessel in operations, Equinor will contribute significantly to funding the conversion to ammonia operation. The project receives five million euros in support through the EU Horizon Europe programme. The necessary conversion and installation of the new engine together with the complete fuel gas supply system and exhaust after-treatment from Wärtsilä will take place in 2026.
'The offshore fleet on the NCS is ageing and needs renewal. Investing in new technology is expensive, and there are many uncertainties. At the same time, scaling up the use of operational technology to enable the necessary transformation is urgent. Cooperation with the authorities and competent suppliers on phasing in recent technology is essential to achieving the emission targets we have set,' says Kvelvane.
The government has announced that it will establish requirements for low-emission solutions from 2025, and zero emissions from new supply vessels from 2029. The orientation of these requirements has not yet been decided. In addition to this contract, Equinor has also made an inquiry in the market for supply vessels capable of running on ammonia.
Background
- Equinor has exercised options to extend the contract for the Viking Energy supply vessel. The contract extension runs from April 2025 to 2030. The contract also includes options for further extensions. In addition to using the vessel in operations, Equinor will contribute significantly to funding the conversion to ammonia operation. The Apollo Project aims to demonstrate the first full-scale ammonia engine in a real operating environment on board the Viking Energy supply vessel.
- The goal is to reduce CO2 emissions by 70 percent, or more, compared with the current propulsion system powered by LNG (natural gas) and MGO (marine gas oil).
- Safety will be the number one priority in the implementation of the project. The project will contribute to the preparation of regulations related to ammonia as a maritime fuel, as well as to the establishment of a value chain for bunkering
- Equinor currently has contracts for 25-35 supply vessels on the NCS at any given time and a total of approx. 45 offshore vessels within supply, anchor handling and emergency preparedness.
- The shipping companies operating for Equinor are 85 percent Norwegian
- About 1300 crew members are employed in the maritime fleet operating for Equinor.
- The Horizon Europe programme
