The Norwegian Coastal Administration's (NCA) hybrid vessel, OV Bøkfjord, is to undergo a significant green upgrade, demonstrating the advances in hybrid technology over the last ten years.
Kongsberg Maritime has been selected as the lead integrator for the project which will include installation of Kongsberg Maritime's electric Rim-Drive azimuth thrusters, together with an upgrade of hybrid capacity.
An innovative frontrunner in the efforts to reduce emissions, the NCA is a national agency under the Ministry of Trade, Industry and Fisheries, responsible for coastal management, maritime safety, and emergency preparedness against acute pollution. The OV Bøkfjord was its first hybrid vessel, delivered in 2016 and one of the first battery hybrids delivered from Kongsberg Maritime.
"This project proved that the hybrid technology has developed significantly over the last ten years since the OV Bøkfjordwas first introduced. Back then, it was a pioneer of its time, and today through this range of upgrades, we’re ensuring it will have even better environmental performance, for many years to come. Through our detailed analysis we have been able to expand the battery capacity by four times compared to the original design,” said Eivind Midtlid, Sales Manager Offshore Integration & Energy, Kongsberg Maritime.
“To maximize emission reductions, we found that changing propulsion technology to our Rim-Drive azimuth thrusters allows the vessel to operate for much longer periods on full electric, emission-free clean energy.”
The vessel charges its batteries with clean energy from Norway's hydro-dominated power grid and utilises this in its daily operations, safeguarding coastal navigation infrastructure. Additionally, the new propellers have been hydrodynamically optimised to significantly reduce noise compared to their predecessors, improving the crew environment and marine life below water.
With a presence along the entire Norwegian coast, the NCA ensures the safety and accessibility of maritime infrastructure, while also providing essential services such as pilotage and navigation technology.
