Swire Orders GE Equipment for 8 PSVs (Singapore)

GE Energy Management’s Power Conversion business today announced it will supply Singapore marine services company Swire Pacific Offshore Operations (Pte) Limited (SPO) with integrated power generation, propulsion, dynamic positioning (DP) and automation systems for eight new offshore platform supply vessels (PSVs).

Four of the PSVs are being built by Universal Shipbuilding Corporation (USC) in Japan and the remaining four by Estaleiro Ilha S.A. (EISA) in Brazil. The PSVs are designed to provide more rapid transit times between the home port, and the oilfield and can do so efficiently by reducing fuel consumption and emissions.

Each of the PSVs will feature diesel electric propulsion systems driving GE’s innovative Inovelis podded propulsion units. Inovelis is a pushing pod that is uniquely based on pump jet principles featuring a fixed stator vane and a nozzle that act together to guide the water flow across the propeller blades and housing, thus minimizing wasted propulsion force and reducing the fuel that is expended in trying to compensate for this lost thrust. Housed within a compact, hydrodynamically efficient enclosure, its compact size facilitates an optimized hull form and a better overall integration between the hull and the propulsion unit—directly influencing fuel economy and a consequent reduction in emissions and a positive improvement in the overall operational efficiency of the vessels.

These latest orders for GE reflect the continued growth in the global offshore oil and gas sector—including in Brazil and the Atlantic basin—that is driving the demand for more advanced support vessels.

“With large PSVs representing an increasingly important business segment for our customers, GE’s innovative power generation, propulsion, DP and automation technology will be vital in helping us provide our customers with reliable and efficient PSVs to support its activities.” said, Neil Glenn, managing director of Swire Pacific Offshore.

“The search for oil and gas is taking operators into deeper waters and greater distances from shore—it’s vital that support vessels such as these achieve cost-effective rapid transit times between home port and the oilfield without sacrificing the capability to operate effectively and efficiently once on site in DP mode. Many existing PSV designs are a compromise between these two often conflicting requirements and are obliged to prioritize the efficiency of one of these operating conditions. GE’s technology, including Inovelis thrusters driven by their inherently efficient electric power and propulsion systems, balances the needs of both conditions to provide a system which best suits performance and fuel efficiency needs of both modes of operation (transit and DP). Since GE also is supplying the DP system to these vessels, even greater levels of overall system optimization can be achieved,” Glenn added.

“GE is committed to meeting the operational requirements of Swire and its customers by providing a fully integrated solution for power, propulsion and control systems that offer significant benefits in terms of fuel usage and enhanced operational efficiency,” said Paul English, marine vertical leader for GE Energy Management’s Power Conversion business. “Swire’s selection of GE’s integrated solution also benefits the two shipbuilders USC and EISA by giving them a single source for the power, propulsion and control/automation equipment, which streamlines the procurement process and reduces their technical and commercial risk.”

GE’s scope of supply includes diesel engine-driven alternators as well as main and auxiliary switchboards. The propulsion system will be comprised of the Inovelis podded propulsion units, thruster motors and variable frequency drives for the podded propulsion units and for the tunnel thrusters and the C- Series dynamic positioning and vessel automation systems.

Elements of GE’s delivery for these ships will be manufactured locally in Brazil where GE has invested heavily in production facilities for motors, alternators, variable frequency drives, distribution equipment, DP and automation as well as support services including technical assistance, spare parts and training facilities.

GE will deliver its equipment to the two shipyards between May 2013 and February 2014. The first PSV is expected to enter service in September 2013 and the last in September 2014.

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Press Release, August 29, 2012