Tidewater Converting OSV to Hybrid Power

KONGSBERG has been contracted to deliver hybrid power solution for the Tidewater Marine offshore supply vessel (OSV), Bailey Tide.

As a single supplier under the terms of the contract, KONGSBERG said it will deliver and install a K-Pos DP (Dynamic Positioning), K-Chief 700 IAS (Integrated Automation System) and AGS (Advanced Generator Supervisor) upgrades designed to improve energy efficiency, optimize power management and enhance vessel positioning maneuvers. As well as advancing onboard safety and energy storage, the hybrid solution will cut operational costs by helping to reduce the vessel’s fuel consumption, KONGSBERG said.

The hybrid upgrade will be accompanied with the installation of a KONGSBERG Information Management System (K-IMS), an interactive and collaborative web-based platform which will give Tidewater Marine and its subsuppliers continuous data access, both on board and on shore. Work on Bailey Tide’s upgrade has already started, and is expected to be completed before May 2020.

Deepak Thomas, Sales Manager from Kongsberg Maritime Singapore, said, “Our AGS software functionality has also proved its worth across the Tidewater fleet in mitigating blackouts and increasing the reliability and safety of the Power Management System, and we’re keen to assist the company in progressing ever further in the pursuit of environmentally-responsible, cost-effective energy efficiency.”

“KONGSBERG’s comprehensive hybrid upgrade positions us as a pioneer in the OSV sector,” adds Jeff Gorski, Chief Operating Officer for Tidewater Marine, “in helping our clients to meet strict environmental regulations, due to be introduced in 2020, for decreasing CO2, NOx and SOx emissions.”

(Photo: KONGSBERG)