Five 600 MW hydrogen-ready floating power stations slated for major conversion

A fleet of high-capacity floating power stations is heading to Singapore for a major engineering refit. Under a new deal, marine engineering firm Seatrium will convert and assemble five next-generation “Whale Class” vessels for Turkey-based operator Karpowership. The ships act as mobile power plants, built to supply electricity directly into national grids from coastal waters.

Work on the engineering designs has already begun. The first hull is scheduled to berth at Seatrium’s Tuas Boulevard Yard in December 2027, where technicians will install power hardware, complete mechanical systems, and run pre-commissioning tests.

Floating plants are increasingly used to bypass the long construction timelines of onshore power stations. Karpowership builds its vessels with a plug-and-play architecture, allowing them to hook into coastal substations and start generating electricity within 30 days of arrival.

The Whale Class represents the operator’s largest design so far. Each vessel is engineered to deploy up to 600 megawatts of electricity. To put that in perspective, a single ship produces enough energy to power hundreds of thousands of homes.

Expansion of a working partnership

The design also addresses the shift toward cleaner fuels. The vessels carry multi-fuel generation machinery designed to run on conventional marine fuels, natural gas, or hydrogen blends without requiring structural rebuilding.

High-efficiency layouts ensure fuel moves continuously through the generation train while onboard substations handle step-up transformation for direct transmission ashore.

The agreement expands a working partnership between the two companies that began in 2018. Over that period, Seatrium has delivered seven floating storage and regasification units (FSRUs) to Karpowership, with work on two more vessels already secured.

This latest project converts earlier plans into firm contracts. In August 2025, both parties signed a letter of intent covering three gas-storage conversions and the integration of up to six new power vessels. The current five-ship deal represents the primary execution phase of that agreement.

Global energy outlook

Executives from both firms stressed the project’s engineering demands. Alvin Gan, executive vice president of repairs and upgrades at Seatrium, said the contract marks the yard’s first conversion of the Whale Class series. He noted that the yard’s offshore engineering teams will manage the complex equipment integration needed to secure floating power supplies globally.

Gokhan Kocak, chief technical operations officer at Karpowership, added that the new class reflects the company’s shift toward larger, cleaner energy assets. He said Seatrium’s past performance on complex vessel conversions made it the natural partner to deliver the flagship hulls.

“Karpowership has transformed global power generation with its innovative Powership model, delivering fast-track and dependable electricity solutions to millions worldwide,” concluded Kocak.

“The next-generation Whale Class Powerships demonstrate our continued commitment to innovation, operational excellence and energy security.”

The project signals continued demand for rapid-deployment energy infrastructure. As emerging economies and coastal hubs face growing power shortfalls, modular floating plants offer a way to secure grid capacity while keeping the door open to future hydrogen adoption.

Source: https://interestingengineering.com/energy/five-hydrogen-ready-floating-power-plant