The offshore industry is preparing to test an innovative wind-assisted towing system that could significantly reduce fuel consumption and emissions during long-distance marine operations.
SBM Offshore, together with Technip Energies, TotalEnergies and French technology company Beyond the Sea, has announced plans to evaluate a giant automated kite system for towing the GranMorgu FPSO from China to its offshore location in Suriname.
Unlike traditional towing methods that rely entirely on powerful tugboats, the new SeaKite 2400 system uses wind energy to generate additional pulling force. Flying hundreds of meters above the sea, the large kite automatically adjusts to changing wind conditions, helping reduce the load on towing vessels.
The project aims to shorten towing time, lower fuel consumption and reduce greenhouse gas emissions. Engineers will also evaluate the kite’s automatic launch and recovery system, along with its overall performance during one of the world’s longest offshore towing operations.
If successful, the trial could become the world’s first commercial application of wind-assisted kite towing for an FPSO. The technology may later be adapted for other large offshore structures and commercial vessels, supporting the maritime industry’s transition toward lower-carbon operations.
The GranMorgu FPSO will operate at the deepwater Block 58 development offshore Suriname and is expected to become one of the country’s largest offshore energy projects.
Я думаю, эта статья хорошо зайдёт в раздел News & Tips на CREW ARIA. После неё можем сделать украинскую и русскую версии, а затем создать красивый баннер с огромным воздушным кайтом, который буксирует FPSO через океан.
