Wärtsilä to provide systems integration for the FellowSHIP project

Offshore staff

HELSINKI, Finland -- Wärtsilä has been assigned overall responsibility for systems integration for the FellowSHIP project. It is a joint industry research and development project managed by Det Norske Veritas. Wärtsilä's equipment is being used to integrate and create synergies between marine technology and fuel cell technology. The equipment has been installed onboard the platform supply vessel Viking Lady for sea tests.

The FellowSHIP project aims to develop and demonstrate hybrid fuel cell power packs for marine and offshore use. The power pack will be used as an auxiliary power source on the Viking Lady, which is owned by Eidesvik Offshore. Wärtsilä's electrical and automation business unit has custom developed the power electronics needed to connect the fuel cell to the ship's electrical network.

The 320-kW fuel cell, produced by MTU Onsite Energy, has been integrated with Wärtsilä's technology, and tested. Land testing included all operational modes, shut down conditions, and dynamical behavior.

The partners in the FellowSHIP project include Wärtsilä, Eidesvik, Det Norske Veritas, and MTU Onsite Energy. It is supported by the Norwegian Research Council, Innovation Norway, and the German Federal Ministry of Economics and Technology.

“Being the systems integrator on what might potentially be the world's most environmentally friendly ship, is very exciting for us,” says Ingve Sørfonn, project manager and director of R&D for Wärtsilä Ship Power Technology. “The vision for the FellowSHIP project is to develop a technology that makes a positive contribution to the environment, and can be used in marine constructions.”

09/25/2009