VESSEL REVIEW | BGP Innovator – All-electric vessel to support China’s offshore exploration activities

China National Petroleum Corporation (CNPC) has begun operating a new vessel to support offshore oil exploration activities.

The Panamanian-flagged BGP Innovator was built by Dalian Lushun Binhai Shipbuilding to a design by Dalian Hengxing Ship Engineering Design as a dynamic positioning (DP) equipped, shallow-water exploration vessel capable of ocean bottom node (OBN) surveys even in coastal areas that are only five metres deep.

The shallow draught allows the 88.23- by 16.9-metre newbuild to operate in a greater number of regions around the world compared to other OBN-capable vessels of similar size. The vessel is thus capable of serving a range of customers in the international OBN and offshore exploration markets as well within China.

The vessel has all-electric propulsion and a hull of a wide and flat bulbous bow design, which improves stability in shallow waters. The digital and intelligent electric propulsion system was supplied by China State Shipbuilding Corporation (CSSC). This includes generator sets, distribution systems, the DP systems, and the selective catalytic reduction (SCR) aftertreatment systems for use with the generators.

The vessel also boasts integrated onboard systems for navigation, node, retraction, and data acquisition. One system enables the crew to undertake real-time monitoring of the vessel's underwater acquisition equipment, thus enduring quality control.

BGP Innovator was designed in compliance to the rules of both Bureau Veritas and China Classification Society (CCS). For its initial deployment, the vessel will be operated by Chinese offshore survey company BGP in support of CNPC's activities in the Persian Gulf.

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