Finnish technology group Wärtsilä has signed a contract with Norwegian shipowner Eidesvik Offshore to convert the offshore platform supply vessel (PSV) Viking Energy to operate on ammonia fuel.
The vessel, currently under contract to Norwegian energy major Equinor, is set to be converted during the first quarter of 2026. She is expected to begin operating on ammonia in the first half of that year, making ger the world’s first ammonia-fuelled ship in active service.
Wärtsilä will supply the engine, complete fuel gas supply system, and exhaust after-treatment needed for the conversion.
The initiative comes as the shipping industry seeks more sustainable fuel options to meet new global regulations aiming for net-zero emissions by mid-century. The conversion is expected to cut emissions from Viking Energy by at least 70 percent.
Equinor and Eidesvik Offshore have collaborated on environmental technology for Viking Energy for over two decades. When delivered in 2003, the vessel became the world’s first LNG-fuelled platform supply vessel, and was also given the world’s first ‘Battery Power’ notation for its Wärtsilä-installed battery system.
Equinor will not only use the vessel in operations but also contribute significantly to funding its conversion to ammonia operation. The project will receive €5 million in support through the EU Horizon Europe programme.
Wärtsilä will carry out the necessary conversion and installation of the new engine, complete fuel gas supply system, and exhaust after-treatment in 2026.
Wärtsilä’s comprehensive package for the Viking Energy conversion includes the Wärtsilä 25 Ammonia engine, AmmoniaPac Fuel Gas Supply System, Ammonia Release Mitigation System (WARMS), and a specialized selective catalytic reduction (SCR) system. The deal also encompasses a maintenance service agreement.
Photo by Tore Hettervik/shipspotting.com
