UK shipowner Purus is teaming up with Dutch floating production, storage and offloading company Bluewater to develop a new fleet of clean energy storage vessels.
The aim is to provide floating storage and offloading solutions worldwide for new fuels such as low-carbon ammonia and clean hydrogen, as well as for carbon capture, utilisation and storage.
“With the shift to a cleaner energy economy underway, the global pursuit of low-carbon fuels is expected to drive strong growth in the ammonia, hydrogen and carbon supply chains over the next several years,” the companies said.
These new fuels will bring distribution challenges, they added, arguing that the solution is bespoke floating offshore storage terminals.
A new clean energy floating storage and offloading ship will offer greater flexibility than conventional onshore storage tanks, accelerating the global energy transition, Purus and Bluewater said.
The two sides will bring expertise in fuel transfers, floating storage, cryogenic gas cargo handling and shipping.
They will handle engineering, procurement, construction, installation and commissioning works, as well as subsequent operations and maintenance.
Purus and Bluewater said they were delighted to deepen their working relationship into a formal long-term alliance.
“Both companies will look to build on their strong market reputations and long-term relationships with common customers to deliver on their shared vision to enable the clean energy transition and to bring low-carbon energies to the world,” they added.
Expanding fleet
Purus, which was established by investment firm EnTrust Global, has been expanding its fleet with purchases and newbuildings.
It has 73 ultra-low emission vessels across the gas, wind and technology sectors, according to its website.
Three very large ethane carriers are on order at Hyundai Heavy Industries in South Korea.
The company is led by chief executive Julian Proctor, who is based in Hong Kong.
Bluewater owns five FPSOs deployed in Europe and Asia.
In 2022, it revealed a move into wind farm work, agreeing a deal with the Norwegian Marin Energi Testsenter for a berth option to deploy an innovative floating wind system.
The system in the North Sea off Karmoy will produce renewable energy for the Norwegian grid.
