Bibby Marine signs shipbuilding deal for world’st first zero-emission support vessel
Bibby Marine, part of the Liverpool-based Bibby Line Group, has entered into a shipbuilding contract to build the world’s first truly zero-emission electric Commissioning Service Operation Vessel (eCSOV).
After a tendering process involving a variety of yards in the UK and overseas, Gondan Shipbuilders, in Spain, was selected by Bibby Marine.
The new eCSOV, which has been designed in collaboration with UK-based ship designers Longitude, will feature a powerful battery system, complemented by dual-fuel methanol engines for emissions-free operations.
It will be the first vessel to operate solely on battery power for more than 16-hours between charging cycles, allowing workers to operate a full shift between charges. The vessel will also be capable of drawing energy directly from turbines.
Bibby Marine CEO, Nigel Quinn, said: “This is an exciting next step for our project, and we are delighted to have found a partner in Gondan Shipbuilders, who will bring our clean vision to life.
“Gondan’s 100 year-experience of building ships and more recent experience of building ships to suit a low/no carbon future, aligns closely with our own history and vision, which meant it stood out as a yard to help us deliver our eCSOV.”
He added: “As a UK-owned company, we are pleased this vessel will be the first UK-designed CSOV and a UK-flagged vessel.
“We will continue to work alongside our established supply chain and local academia, to ensure UK shipyards are engaged, and have the opportunity to learn, throughout the process. We want this project to support the ambition to turn the UK into the world’s number one centre for green technology.
“The delivery of this vessel has the potential to be a game-changer for our industry by accelerating our path to net zero, as well as showcasing marine innovation at its finest. This project will demonstrate that clean ships can be built at the same total cost of ownership as a conventional fossil-burning vessel, coupled with significantly reduced operating costs.”
The investment is the first new vessel commissioned by Bibby since WaveMaster Horizon SOV was launched in 2019 and is an example of the renewed ambition and capability of the group to invest for future growth and play a leading part in the global energy transition, it said.
Bibby Line Group CEO, Jonathan Lewis, said: “As a family-owned business, we pride ourselves on being able to take a long term perspective.
“Following our group restructure in 2020, significant investment in our more focused portfolio of core businesses is resulting in improved group performance and allowing us to invest for future growth – putting Bibby very much back on the front foot in our respective sectors.”
Daniel Scavuzzo, Sales Director of Gondan Shipbuilders, said: “We are excited to begin this journey with Bibby Marine, who are at the forefront of offshore wind and committed to decarbonising the maritime sector. This project fits seamlessly with our expertise in zero-emission technologies.”
This project is part of the Zero Emission Vessels and Infrastructure (ZEVI) scheme, funded by the UK Department for Transport (DfT) and delivered by Innovate UK.
ZEVI is part of the Department’s UK Shipping Office for Reducing Emissions (UK SHORE) programme, a £206m initiative focused on developing the technology necessary to decarbonise the UK domestic maritime sector.
In September last year it was announced during London International Shipping Week that ZEVI had awarded match-funding worth £20m to the consortium, led by Bibby Marine.
The consortium comprises Port of Aberdeen, Offshore Renewable Energy (ORE) Catapult, Kongsberg, DNV, Shell and Liverpool John Moores University.
