- New Sea Lion powerships to add 1,200MW to Karpowership’s floating power fleet
Karpowership has begun construction of a new generation of floating power plants, with the launch of its Sea Lion-class powerships expected to expand the company’s global capacity to deliver fast, flexible electricity to countries facing urgent power supply needs.
The company held a steel-cutting ceremony at the HSG Sungdong shipyard in South Korea, officially marking the start of construction on the first vessel in a planned series of four next-generation powerships.
The ceremony was attended by Karpowership Founding Partner and Executive Board Member Osman Murat Karadeniz, Founding Partner and Chief Executive Officer Orhan Remzi Karadeniz, and other senior executives of the company.
Each Sea Lion-class vessel will have an installed capacity of 300 megawatts and will be fitted with three high-efficiency gas turbines operating in a combined-cycle configuration. This design is expected to deliver higher fuel efficiency and lower emissions compared with conventional power generation technologies.
The four vessels are scheduled for delivery on a rolling basis between January and May 2028, positioning Karpowership to expand its floating power fleet at a time when many economies are seeking quicker and more flexible solutions to electricity shortages.
Measuring 136 metres in length and with a draft of 4.5 metres, the Sea Lion-class powerships are designed for rapid deployment across a wide range of coastal locations. Their relatively flexible deployment profile could make them suitable for countries that require additional generation capacity but lack the time or infrastructure to build large conventional plants.
Powerships are floating power plants equipped with multi-fuel power generation systems. Through onboard integrated substations, they can connect directly to national grids and, where the necessary infrastructure is available, begin generating electricity in less than 30 days.
Karpowership said the Sea Lion class represents the newest addition to its fleet, which already includes the Khan, Orca, Shark, Mermaid, Seal and Whale classes, with capacities ranging from 30 megawatts to 600 megawatts.
The expansion comes as demand for flexible power generation continues to grow, particularly across emerging markets where grid instability, generation deficits and delayed infrastructure projects continue to affect industrial activity and economic growth.
For countries facing immediate power shortfalls, floating power plants offer an alternative to long construction timelines associated with traditional thermal plants. Their plug-and-play model allows governments and utilities to add capacity quickly, while integrated substations reduce some of the grid connection challenges that often delay new generation projects.
The new Sea Lion-class vessels also reflect the growing pressure on power producers to improve efficiency and reduce emissions. By using combined-cycle gas turbine technology, the vessels are expected to generate more electricity from the same amount of fuel compared with less efficient thermal technologies.
For Karpowership, the investment strengthens its position in the global mobile power generation market and expands the range of solutions it can offer to countries seeking reliable short- to medium-term electricity supply.
The company has become a visible player in several markets by providing power from floating plants that can be deployed close to demand centres, ports or coastal grid infrastructure. Its model has gained attention in countries where electricity demand is rising faster than conventional generation projects can be financed and completed.
The Sea Lion programme therefore marks more than a fleet expansion. It signals Karpowership’s bet that flexible, rapidly deployable and relatively more efficient floating power solutions will continue to play a role in global electricity security.
As governments face pressure to keep lights on, support industrial growth and manage the energy transition, the appeal of power systems that can be delivered faster than traditional infrastructure is likely to remain strong.
With four 300-megawatt Sea Lion vessels now under development, Karpowership is positioning itself to meet that demand with a new class of powerships designed for speed, scale and improved efficiency.
