Cable Control
Stillstrom by Maersk has successfully demonstrated fully automated cable control for charging hybrid vessels operating on dynamic positioning at offshore wind farms.
The milestone trial of its Stillstrom Offshore eCharger was witnessed by DNV as part of the technology qualification process.
The system automatically managed the charging cable from connection through to the vessel’s return to position, adjusting the cable length as the vessel moved.
The trial was carried out with offshore wind vessel operator ESVAGT and development partner Semco Maritime in Esbjerg, Denmark.
The test covered automated cable control, RTK GPS positioning, synchronised line speeds, monitoring and data logging under realistic yard conditions.
Stillstrom said the result removes a key practical barrier to the commercial deployment of hybrid and electric support vessels offshore.
The next step will be an integrated test involving a service operation vessel and the complete system, followed by a sea trial for final certification.
