With the introduction of stricter environmental regulations and government subsidies in both the EU and North America, ship owners outside of Norway are increasingly seeking to optimize their vessels and operations for a more energy-efficient future.
The EU-funded program, Horizon Europe, is the world’s largest research and innovation program with a budget of EUR 95.5 billion. As much as 35% of the budget is dedicated to climate objectives. In the USA, the Inflation Reduction Act has allocated substantial funding for clean energy initiatives, which are now taking shape.
In addition to these regulatory initiatives, the benefits of hybrid and electric operations are becoming increasingly compelling. Shipowners are recognizing the fuel and maintenance savings, improved energy management and performance, and reputational advantages associated with low- and zero-emission operations.
As a result, a growing number of shipowners are turning to experienced system developers and integrators for electric and hybrid solutions, aiming for a safe and efficient path to enhanced energy efficiency and reduced emissions. As an energy-source agnostic solutions provider, SEAM's automation and energy systems are uniquely positioned to meet these market demands, having already delivered solutions to shipowners worldwide.
- The global demand for hybrid and fully electric systems is definitely increasing.
With their impressive reference list of hybrid and fully electric solutions to Norwegian ferry and offshore vessel owners, SEAM has in the past few years focused on introducing their power and automation technology to segments in the EU, UK, Scandinavia, and the US. Today, they can showcase multiple system deliveries to ship owners in Denmark, Iceland, the Faroe Islands, the US, Finland, and even Taiwan.
- Norway has made significant progress in improving energy efficiency and reducing emissions in its fleet, particularly with ferries and offshore vessels. Our estimates reveal that together with our customers, we have contributed with the reduction of over 220 000 tonnes CO2 so far. We’re excited to see shipowners in Scandinavia, Europe and North America exploring our solutions for their existing vessels and newbuilds, and we are very proud to be their partner in this green transition, says CEO of SEAM, Gunvald Mortvedt.
Not all of SEAM’s international system deliveries are necessarily hybrid or fully electric solutions, but there are several exciting low- and zero-emission projects currently in the works with ship owners and partners from all over the world. One of these projects include the implementation of alternative fuels, and another represents a new vessel segment for the company.
In 2022, SEAM teamed up with American company AMOGY to develop the world’s first ammonia-to-hydrogen powered tugboat. This project, which combines AMOGY’s ammonia-to-power technology with SEAM’s automation platform, DC-switchboards, as well as safety and control systems, aims to showcase AMOGY’s ammonia-to-power technology as viable for maritime operations. The system is currently being installed at the Feeney Shipyard in Kingston, NY., and the demonstration of the tugboat is set to take place during the summer of 2024.
Earlier this year, Danish company Rohde-Nielsen partnered with SEAM for the hybridization of two dredging vessels. These projects, which represent a new segment for SEAM, aim to reduce emissions and increase efficiency in Rohde-Nielsens dredging operations. Rohde-Nielsen has a long history of implementing measures to reduce the carbon footprint of their operations. By integrating the e-SEAMatic® BLUE hybrid solution on their vessels, the company will reduce CO2 emissions and optimize operations even further.
- Our job is to provide future-oriented shipowners with the systems and solutions that will enable their green transition in a safe and efficient way. To do this, we invest considerable time and energy on research and development – such as the integration of hydrogen fuel cells, ammonia-to-power systems, data utilization, and autonomy. In doing so, we can provide shipowners with important knowledge about what the future of maritime technology looks like, and what they can do to prepare for that future, explains Mortvedt.
