Sørlandet Knowledge Foundation and the Regional Research Council Agder has granted ESNA funding to develop the next generation of Surface Effect Ships for offshore service operations. ESNA, an independent naval architects and ship design company for high speed vessels, specialises in air cushioned catamaran Surface Effect Ships.
ESNA operates at the crossroads between advanced military and commercial high speed craft technology and the market for offshore renewable energy and maritime operations. The company develops designs with outstanding performance, seakeeping and comfort, higher speed and with lower power consumption and emissions for a greener future.
The grants run from 2016 through 2018 and involve collaboration with the local university UiA (University of Agder) in Grimstad/Kristiansand, NTNU (Norwegian University of Science and Technology) in Trondheim and the highly specialized CFD/FEM consultant cDynamics, all in Norway.
“These grants are a confirmation that our business set-up is right”, says Trygve H. Espeland, co-founder and naval architect of ESNA. “These organizations have performed a technical and commercial evaluation of our R&D programs and our competence and have concluded positive”.
“The grants provide the economical freedom we need to further develop vessel transfer and access technologies for offshore windfarms both further offshore and nearshore. We are currently working with new and innovative ideas we hope to present to the market soon”, says co-founder and naval architect Nere G Skomedal. “This financial input also allows us to strengthen our team, so we are now on the search for a new colleague”.
About the Regional Research Council Agder
Regional Research Council Agder (RFFAgder) is one of seven regional research councils in Norway. It covers the counties of Øst Agder and Vest Agder. Grants from RFFAgder shall support regional research activities for regional innovation and development.
About Sørlandet Knowledge Foundation
The Sørlandet Knowledge Foundation (SKF) is a financier of R&D and knowledge- building projects in Vest Agder county. The Foundation was established in 2001 with the overall objective to create and secure jobs and improve social conditions in the region. Since then it has donated some 400 MNOK to more than 800 projects.