Japan’s Mitsui OSK Lines (MOL) has agreed a new collaboration deal to build floating desalination vessels (FDVs) to alleviate water shortages.
The company will work with Norwegian desalination company EnviroNor on the project, which aims to convert tankers, barges and platform supply vessels.
The two sides believe the FDVs will provide a fast-track solution to the world’s water scarcity challenge.
Work has begun on commercialising the idea, they said.
MOL will bring experience in building, owning and operating ships over many years, the group added.
This will be combined with EnviroNor’s expertise within shipping and desalination.
EnviroNor is led by chairman Michael Larsen and is advised by its previous chairman Ingar Skaug, a former chief executive of Norwegian shipping group Wilh Wilhelmsen.
“We aim to build FDVs and capture business opportunities as a means of providing new fast-track solutions all over the world where water shortages are a current and rapid growing challenge,” the companies said.
Reverse osmosis
The FDVs will be equipped with seawater desalination equipment using reverse osmosis membranes.
These remove impurities, allowing fresh drinking water to be supplied to shore.
Compared to a seawater desalination plant on land, FDVs do not require the acquisition of land.
The conversion of existing vessels offers the advantage of being able to start water supply in a short time, the companies believe.
In 2019, EnviroNor said it had financial backing from funds like Innovation Norway, as well as the Norwegian Export Credit bank.
Companies who have pledged to provide technical and ship management advice and assets included Wilhelmsen, Odfjell, Teekay Tankers and Eidesvik Offshore.
