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Norwegian firm Eidesvik Offshore has entered into a contract to build its fifth platform supply vessel powered by natural gas.

In July of this year Eidesvik entered into a contract with Kleven Maritime for the delivery of one natural gas-powered Platform Service Vessel of the VS 489 LNG design [pictured], with the option to order another before December 1st 2010. This option has now been declared.

Eidesvik built the world’s first natural gas powered cargo vessel, the Viking Energy, as early as in 2003, and the company is also developing environmentally-friendly fuel cell technology for offshore vessels.

The newbuild is a Platform Supply Vessel (PSV) type: VS 489 LNG, 89 meters long and 21 meters wide. It is to be delivered during the third quarter of 2012.

The two VS 489 LNG vessels have been designed with fuel economy and low emissions in mind. Four LNG dual fuel engines will ensure low NOX emissions (85 percent reduction) and significantly reduce CO2 emissions by around 25 percent.

Light ice class (ICE C) makes them suitable for northern waters. They will also include a new state of the art system for purifying ballast water and sophisticated equipment for oil recovery (OIL REC NOFO 2009).

"Eidesvik has been and, with this new vessel, continues to be the world's largest provider of environementally friendly platform supply vessels powered by LNG," Eidesvik said in a statement.

“Eidesvik Offshore and Kleven Maritime pioneered the world’s first LNG powered PSV - the Viking Energy – in 2003. We are happy to secure the two contracts, and we believe strongly both in the vessel type and the underlying technology,” said Kleven Maritime Managing Director Ståle Rasmussen.

"Kleven Maritime maintains its position as pioneer in the building of LNG powered vessels. In total seven vessels including the two ordered at this time," Kleven Maritime said.