SBM Offshore, Technip Energies, TotalEnergies and Beyond the Sea collaborate to demonstrate wind-assisted towing technology for large offshore assets
STS JV– a joint venture formed by SBM Offshore and Technip Energies and TotalEnergies EP Suriname have signed an agreement with French wind propulsion specialist Beyond the Sea to evaluate Wind Assisted Towing System (WATS) technology for the GranMorgu FPSO project.
The partners will develop, install, test and operate a Wind Assisted Towing System designed to reduce fuel consumption and towing time during the FPSO’s transit from its construction yard in China to its operating location offshore Suriname.
The initiative will see Beyond the Sea supply its SeaKite® 2400 system, an automated kite propulsion solution capable of generating additional towing force by harnessing favourable wind conditions throughout the voyage.
Its main objective is to reduce towing duration and fuel consumption by implementing a kite traction system during the towing of the FPSO from the construction site in China to its final destination in Suriname, while also serving as a use case to validate this technology for large-scale vessels.
The project will be delivered through a phased R&D approach, covering technology development and qualification, costs and operational readiness as well as an intensive on shore test program before integration on the FPSO in China. Progression to subsequent stages will depend on meeting predefined technical and safety criteria.
Other main objectives are to validate the kite’s wing launching and recovery system, as well as collecting data for the system sizing optimization using digital modelling.
Given its innovative nature and its application to a complex offshore development, the initiative represents a first-of-a-kind application of kite traction towing for an FPSO, requiring close coordination between all stakeholders, and a very specific approach of risk management due to the nature of the vessel.
Laurent Le Touze, SBM Offshore’ s Group Technology and Product Development Director said: “Working together with TotalEnergies and Beyond the Sea, we are evaluating how wind-assisted propulsion can contribute to lower-carbon and more energy-efficient offshore logistics for the GranMorgu project, while also supporting the development of innovative maritime solutions with broader decarbonization potential. Decarbonization is one of our strategic priorities and we are very much looking forward to assessing new future opportunities in this field”.
Frédéric Beys, TotalEnergies GranMorgu Project Director stated: “Improving energy efficiency remains a constant driver in our developments. Beyond the Sea offers a solution that fully aligns with this objective, and we are proud to support the challenge of scaling up the Seakite system during the towing phase of the GranMorgu Project. We believe this initiative will demonstrate a significant step forward, paving the way for innovative wind-assisted propulsion solutions in maritime transport.”
Yves Parlier, founder of Beyond the Sea said: “I founded Beyond the Sea with the conviction that wind, and more specifically kite traction, can contribute to the decarbonisation of maritime transport, by adapting to different types of vessels and uses. We are therefore delighted to contribute, alongside TotalEnergies and SBM Offshore, to the GranMorgu project, by working on the integration of a SeaKite 2400 on an FPSO. This project represents an important step for us in the development of our technology. In a particularly demanding offshore environment, our ambition is to meet this challenge with humility and determination, progressively demonstrating that kite traction propulsion can become a reliable, operational and effective solution. This collaboration will enable us to take a new step in the traction capacity of our systems and to measure their concrete impact in service of maritime decarbonisation.”
