SBM Offshore, its joint venture partner Technip Energies, TotalEnergies EP Suriname and French technology company Beyond the Sea have agreed to evaluate a wind-assisted towing system for the GranMorgu floating production, storage and offloading (FPSO) vessel being built for Suriname’s first offshore oil development.
The partners will assess whether Beyond the Sea’s SeaKite 2400 system could provide additional towing force during the vessel’s journey from its construction yard in China to Block 58 offshore Suriname. The objective is to reduce fuel consumption and greenhouse gas emissions during the transoceanic tow.
According to the companies, the initiative would mark the first use of wind-assisted towing technology on an FPSO if it moves forward.
The evaluation will be carried out in phases. It includes technology qualification, engineering studies, operational planning, cost assessments and an extensive onshore testing programme before the system is installed on the vessel in China. Progress to each stage will depend on predefined technical and safety requirements being met.
Laurent Le Touze, Group Technology and Product Development Director at SBM Offshore, said the project reflects the company’s efforts to improve the efficiency of offshore operations while exploring technologies that support lower carbon maritime transport.
Beyond the Sea founder Yves Parlier said the agreement represents an important step in demonstrating the company’s kite propulsion technology on a large-scale offshore project. He said the GranMorgu campaign offers an opportunity to validate the system during a long-distance towing operation.
The SeaKite 2400 is an automated kite system designed to generate additional towing force from the wind. As part of the programme, the partners will also evaluate the kite’s launch and recovery system and collect operational data to support future optimisation of the technology.
TotalEnergies GranMorgu Project Director Frédéric Beys said improving energy efficiency remains a priority for the development. He said the study is intended to assess an innovative solution that could help reduce emissions associated with offshore logistics.
The GranMorgu FPSO is being built for the Block 58 development, located about 150 kilometres offshore Suriname. The project, operated by TotalEnergies with APA Corporation as partner and Staatsolie as a participant, was sanctioned in 2024 following appraisal of the Sapakara South and Krabdagu discoveries.
Designed to produce up to 220,000 barrels of oil per day, the FPSO will also have storage capacity of approximately two million barrels. First oil is expected in 2028.