Corvus Energy, Richmond, British Columbia, has been selected to provide battery power to seven Seacor Marine hybrid PSVs.

Corvus has been selected by Seacor and Kongsberg Maritime to supply lithium ion-based energy storage systems (ESS) for four platform supply vessels (PSVs) being retrofitted with a start-of-the-art hybrid power systems.

Corvus has also been selected by Seacor and Rolls-Royce to provide lithium ion-based ESSes for three new  PSVs also being fitted with hybrid power systems. The new PSVs were acquired by SEACOSCO, a joint venture between Seacor and China Cosco Shipping Group (COSCO), and will be retrofitted into hybrid vessels.

The Corvus Orca ESS will supply electrical power to the PSVs’ propulsion and dynamic positioning system’s electrical network with the goal of enabling safe, environmentally friendly and lower cost operations.

In the first deal, the four PSVs are owned by Mantenimiento Express Marítimo SAPI de CV (Mexmar), Seacor Marine’s joint venture in Mexico. An Orca ESS will first be added to the Seacor Maya, which is due for completion this month, and three other vessels: the Seacor Azteca, Seacor Warrior and Seacor Viking. Typical vessel operations will utilize the batteries to provide spinning reserve during critical vessel operations such as dynamic positioning, as well as to provide support for peak shaving, enabling the diesel engines to operate more efficiently.

Utilizing battery power from the Orca ESS will not only reduce the environmental footprint of offshore operations but will also significantly reduce operational costs, including fuel and maintenance on the engines.

“We are confident in the energy saving and safety elements of the Corvus Orca ESS for Seacor Maya and keen to start migration of more of our vessels to this unique, environmentally friendly and highly efficient power solution,” Tim Clerc, Seacor’s manager of engineering, said in a statement announcing the deal.

“Corvus is proud to be a key partner in Seacor’s commitment to the environment and their goal of sustainable and energy efficient operations”, said Halvard Hauso, senior vice president of sales at Corvus Energy. “Utilizing an Orca ESS as part of the Kongsberg hybrid solution, these PSVs will become the first hybrid PSVs in the Americas to help clients meet strict environmental regulations for reducing NOx, SOx and CO2 emissions.”

“Corvus is pleased to be an integral part of Seacor’s growing fleet of hybrid PSVs”, Hauso continued “Tightly integrated with the Rolls-Royce hybrid power solution, the Orca ESS will enable these vessels to achieve significant environmental and energy efficiency benefits.”

Corvus Energy provides high power energy storage in the form of modular lithium ion battery systems. Its purpose-built battery systems provide sustained power to hybrid and fully electric heavy industrial equipment, including large marine propulsion drives.

Ken Hocke has been the senior editor of WorkBoat since 1999. He was the associate editor of WorkBoat from 1997 to 1999. Prior to that, he was the editor of the Daily Shipping Guide, a transportation daily in New Orleans. He has written for other publications including The Times-Picayune. He graduated from Louisiana State University with an arts and sciences degree, with a concentration in English, in 1978.