BREVIK ENGINEERING: Designing the Future of Floating Energy
Brevik Engineering is embracing change across the marine sector as vessels and ocean facilities change and adapt. This Norway based company, that operates from a former ice cream factory facing the important commercial Langesund fjord in the country’s south coast, is busy with multiple projects for global clients that are building sustainability into offshore fleets.
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For more than a century, Brevik Engineering has stood at the heart of Norwegian naval architecture, helping to design and deliver some of the world’s most advanced floating structures. Today, the company finds itself at a crucial juncture, leading the transition of offshore engineering away from a traditional oil and gas focus towards a future defined by LNG, hydrogen, and CO2. Under the guidance of Managing Director Evert Grødal, Brevik is sharpening its global ambitions while drawing on decades of expertise in offshore energy.
“We are a naval architect house and our core business over the last 30 years has been mostly in the oil and gas industry designing FPSO and FSO facilities, but we design a variety of floating structures, from conventional tankers to oil and gas platforms, barges, FLNGs, fish farms or similar,” he tells Energy Focus. “We have always been based in Norway where we have more than 100 years of history. Our major clients are the big Norwegian and UK companies, and the North Sea has been our playground for many years. However, in more recent years, there has been less activity in this area and we have become more international.”
That international journey accelerated in 2015 when Brevik was acquired by a Chinese company with three major shipyards. This move provided the company with a new platform for growth, placing Brevik at the heart of global energy markets while strengthening ties with Asian shipyards. “Today, we can work internationally, designing units that can operate in all parts of the world,” Grødal explains. “We have been delivering good results, but our local market has been tightening. We have seen challenges when it comes to getting the biggest jobs and we are moving into green projects with CO2 solutions for shipping and in the direction of offering licenses to companies that want to build, own and operate these vessels.”
EXPANDING HORIZONS
Brevik’s strength lies in its ability to adapt its expertise across industries. The company’s legacy in oil and gas remains strong, but new frontiers are opening rapidly. Offshore fish farms, FLNG, hydrogen-powered vessels, and CO2 transport ships are now firmly in Brevik’s sights. Grødal points out that the push towards greener solutions is highly dependent on international regulation. “Activity in the green transition, including the CO2 market and shipping, has been primarily motivated by introduction of new legislations and taxes. There are still uncertainties as how this landscape will develop, and investments will be very much depended on that.”
Despite these challenges, Brevik continues to push forward with innovation, investing in research on new vessel designs, propulsion technologies, and efficiency-enhancing systems. “We are doing a lot of research around the design of vessels that utilise new technology including new engines, new propellers, different rudder systems, modern welding and painting, and a lot of other techniques that can reduce friction on the vessels. There are many new technologies that can make small improvements of 5%or 10% but altogether they can make a significant difference,” says Grødal.
One area of particular interest is wind assisted propulsion systems and their developing technology, where Brevik is partnering with leading industry players. While still costly, these systems promise long-term efficiency gains and emissions reductions. “Right now, these technologies are expensive and the payback is over several years, but shipowners are investing in such systems in an increasing tempo,” he says. “They are developing fast and experience is growing, depending on how regulations evolve and the competition in the market, they can make a transformation.”
PROJECT PORTFOLIO
A glance at Brevik’s project portfolio reveals the scale and complexity of its work. The company is currently involved in a $2 billion conversion of the Golar MK II FLNG vessel at the CIMC offshore shipyard in Yantai-China – one of the most significant undertakings in the sector. “We have some 30 engineers active on the project while the shipyard is busy converting an LNG carrier to an FLNG production unit, among other activities, constructing a new topside to liquefy the gas,” Grødal explains. “LNG remains a highly valuable and vital energy carrier and we hope to do more business in the FLNG market which is very strong right now.”
The technical demands of LNG projects highlight Brevik’s versatility. “Liquid gas is very cold and utilises cryogenic technologies which we need to understand more. It is a completely different challenge to build containment systems which holds down to minus 170-degree of liquid cargo under pressure. We are busy with research around that and confident in our learnings so far,” says Grødal. “Building the floating part and the infrastructure around the tanks – the ocean-going naval architecture solutions that provide the correct stability – that is the same for oil as it is for gas, and it is the same for FLNG.”
In addition to FLNG, Brevik is also well positioned to support CO2 projects. Grødal is optimistic about the long-term opportunity. “We are bullish on the CO2 market. We have been running big projects for the past decade but the whole CO2 industry has not kicked off. There are thousands of people working in the CO2 market across the world and there are hundreds of projects that are ready to begin – everyone is waiting for this to happen. If and when this market kicks off, there may be a need for more than 1000 vessels to handle the logistics of CO2 and we are waiting for this market to flourish so that there is profit in it.”
ORGANISATIONAL CHANGE
Brevik’s evolution is not limited to its project portfolio. The company is also strengthening and preparing the organisation to refine structures and enhance efficiency. “We are adapting the company to the new market demands. We want a more efficient structure at the top and different departments to ensure we work better together with no idling,” he says.
This shift in strategy includes a move towards more balanced project sizes. “We are now taking some smaller projects. Previously, we had very large projects which would take several years, and we want to be competitive and efficient to win and deliver smaller contracts to keep everyone occupied with interesting tasks,” Grødal notes. “We have started working with a number of oil and gas businesses on projects that will keep us relatively busy in the near future.”
His own experience in operations shapes his approach. “I was previously the Operations Manager looking after all projects and my focus has always been making profit, ensuring that all projects are delivered on time and in compliance with all rules and regulations –schedule adherence is crucial. The project costs must also be delivered within budget, with our client satisfaction is also essential,” he says. “Now, I am more focused on business development and I want to make sure we get the right types of projects, and that is very challenging.”
THE NEXT WAVE
Looking ahead, Brevik is determined to play a central role in the energy transition. The company’s focus on FLNG and CO2 is backed by a belief in the scale of change to come. “The industry is starting in some areas – in Norway we have the Northern Lights project which soon has four vessels but it remains small. In Asia, there are big projects with very large vessels, and it will be a huge business. When everything is sanctioned, we will definitely be a part of it,” says Grødal.
That ambition is rooted in Brevik’s long history of engineering excellence, but its future lies in international collaboration and new technologies. With its strong foundation, a growing global presence, and a willingness to embrace change, Brevik Engineering is poised to help shape the offshore industry’s transition from oil and gas to the fuels of tomorrow.
“We are naval architects and engineers within a broad range of disciplines – we understand a lot of the mechanics of how these things work but when there are gaps in our knowledge we partner with the best – especially when it comes to technical safety and the reports and legislation that is required,” concludes Grødal. “Establishing ourselves as a top engineering house with other products away from our traditional market in oil and gas has also been a central part of our strategy. Floating fish farms, passenger vessels, wind vessels, FLNGs, CO2 vessels or other special floating structures – these are completely different from the typical FPSO market. But we are ready.”