The proprietary Vessel Container Unit has completed factory acceptance testing, paving the way for offshore trials of a system designed to enable service operation vessels to charge directly from offshore wind farms
Stillstrom by Maersk has completed the construction and factory acceptance testing of its proprietary Vessel Container Unit (VCU), marking a significant milestone in the development of offshore charging technology for service operation vessels (SOVs).
Described as the world’s first connection solution enabling an SOV to charge its onboard batteries directly from an offshore wind farm, the VCU has successfully progressed from design and simulation to tested hardware. The factory acceptance testing was witnessed by DNV.
The containerised VCU houses the 11 kV connector package. Its modular construction allows bow, stern or under deck connection and is designed to provide a seamless charging and control interface with the vessel. Housed in its own container, the unit can be integrated on newbuild and retrofitted vessels alike and moved from one vessel to another where onboard cabling permits. Once connected, the VCU integrated funnel enables the vessel to charge at an optimum heading, providing the dynamic positioning operator with total control over charging and disconnection operations.
Graeme Wood, Stillstrom UK MD, said: “For vessel operators, charging at sea is no longer a concept. In simple terms, the VCU has been built and tested, and we are good to go. High-voltage power has never been transferred to a vessel offshore in this way, and the connector package inside our VCU represents several years of careful development and testing. The control system and integrated safety interlocks significantly de-risk offshore charging for both vessel owners and wind farm operators”
“Getting from design to reality meant solving challenges unique to offshore charging, including marinised connectors that withstand daily connection and disconnection, all with DNV witnessing critical steps throughout. Work on the wind farm topsides interface is progressing at pace, and by the middle of next year we’ll have the full end-to-end system ready to go to work at sea.”
The company’s complete charging system is expected to be ready for extended offshore trials by Summer next year.
Lessons from the prototype are already shaping a Mark 2 design, which will move the current semi-automatic alignment towards full automation.
