TWIN X-STERN®
Imagine a vessel with the agility of a 4-wheel-drive but on the open seas. That’s the ULSTEIN TWIN X-STERN®, renowned for its unparalleled manoeuvrability. Its unique features distinguish it from others, and its exceptional quality lies beneath the waterline.
Topics on this page
Go directly to:
The game-changing advantages of TWIN X-STERN
Navigate the maritime frontier with TWIN X-STERN. Merging innovative design with eco-efficiency, it's the choice for forward-thinking shipowners.
- Enhanced fuel efficiency
- The TWIN X-STERN design, building on the legacy of the X-BOW® and the X-STERN®, offers improved operability and fuel efficiency, driving down operational costs.
- Sustainability edge
- With increasing emphasis on zero-emission marine operations by 2050, the TWIN X-STERN provides an eco-friendly approach, positioning shipowners and operators at the forefront of sustainable marine innovations.
- Unmatched operability
- The unique dual stern and bow design with main propeller units at each end ensures smoother motions, higher comfort, and increased operability, making it a preferred choice for complex marine operations.
- Superior manoeuvrability
- The TWIN X-STERN's innovative combination of thrusters and hull design offers enhanced manoeuvrability and the ability to maintain position effectively, which is vital for wind farm operations.
- Noise & energy savings
- This innovative design ensures a quieter operation for increased onboard comfort and leads to significant energy savings during operations, directly benefiting the environment and operational costs.
- Weather-Adaptive Performance
- With the TWIN X-STERN's excellent performance in either direction, there's no need to constantly adjust the ship's direction in response to changing weather.
It's a 'win-wind' situation
As a shipowner or operator, you need to consider the lowest possible fleet life cycle cost. Cost-effectiveness related to fuel consumption has always been a concern for the shipowner. Still, there is also a growing unease concerning the environmental consequences—the commitment to achieve zero-emission marine operations by 2050 sets a new standard. Older vessels need to be upgraded, and new ships must be designed with a more sustainable approach.
Delivering on emission goals becomes a more significant criterion when contracts for wind farm operations are tendered. The TWIN X-STERN might be the competitive edge you need as an operator to win market shares in the offshore wind industry and take a sustainable responsibility. It's a 'win-wind' situation.
Subsea and Cable-Laying: The next frontiers
The TWIN X-STERN design has already been integrated into ten new buildings, each up to 90 metres long and tailored for the walk-to-work market. With its superior handling and stability, the TWIN X-STERN is now poised to revolutionise the subsea and cable-laying sectors. Whether navigating challenging underwater terrains or laying cables with precision, the TWIN X-STERN is the future of maritime innovation.
How to get a competitive edge
Standards and demands for efficiency, safety and green responsibility are changing, and marine operations are becoming increasingly complex. Keeping pace under such conditions can be demanding.
The TWIN X-STERNhas several characteristics, but the easiest way to describe it is as a ship with two sterns and main propeller units at each end.
The combination of thrusters and hull design results in lower energy consumption and reduced motions, and therefore, higher operability and comfort.
This concept dramatically improves manoeuvrability, motions and ability to stay in position. Qualities that make the TWIN X-STERN ideal for wind farm operations. Further, the concept allows for reduced noise, more comfort on board and the potential to save significant amounts of energy in operation.
By having excellent performance in either direction, you avoid having to turn the ship to follow weather changes.
Lars Ståle Skoge
Commercial Director at Ulstein Design & Solutions
According to the Commercial Director at Ulstein Design & Solutions, Lars Ståle Skoge, the TWIN X-STERN has considerable efficiency potential. A ship has to follow the weather when in operation, and turning the ship is traditionally required up to 50 per cent of the time. And this is where the TWIN X-STERN excels. By having excellent performance in either direction, you avoid having to turn the ship to follow weather changes.
TWIN X-STERN references
TWIN X-STERN stories
Big fuel savings on first CSOV newbuilds with Ulstein’s TWIN X-STERN® concept
Taking bold commercial risks on novel vessel concepts with a strong focus on sustainability has made Olympic a pioneering player in the offshore energy sector. Its latest investment in a pair of new-build Construction Service Operation Vessels (CSOVs) based on Ulstein Group’s innovative TWIN X-STERN® solution has paid off, with close to 50% reductions in fuel consumption and emissions to boost environmental performance.
Press Release
Ulstein delivers CSOV vessel Olympic Notos to Olympic
13 November 2024: Ulstein is proud to announce the successful delivery of the Construction Service Operation Vessel (CSOV) Olympic Notos to Olympic. This state-of-the-art vessel marks a significant milestone in maritime innovation and excellence. “As a result of the findings from her sister ship, Olympic Boreas, the shipping company states that the vessels "operate with close to a 50% reduction in fuel consumption compared to other sailing CSOVs."
Update
Olympic's second CSOV with a flawless sea trial
9 October 2024: The second Construction Service Operation Vessel (CSOV) for Olympic, Olympic Notos, has successfully completed its sea trial. This marks a significant milestone in the vessel’s journey towards fully operational status, following in the footsteps of her sister vessel, the Olympic Boreas.
Update
CSOV steel cutting ceremony for Ulstein Verft’s Yno 323
On 1 October 2024, the steel cutting ceremony for Ulstein Verft’s yard number 323 was held at the Crist hull yard. The Commissioning Service Operation Vessel (CSOV) is based on the award-winning TWIN X-STERN platform and has been designed by Ulstein Design & Solutions AS.
Update
Launch of the second Olympic CSOV
On Wednesday, 21 August 2024, one month after the delivery of the Olympic Boreas, Ulstein Verft launched the second Construction Service Operation Vessel (CSOV) for Olympic; the Olympic Notos. Both vessels are built on the innovative TWIN X-STERN solution, a concept described as a '4-wheel-drive' for the seas.
Update
A new milestone achieved for yard number 322 – Keel laying ceremony completed
The keel laying ceremony at Crist hull yard 06 August 2024 symbolizes that yard number 322 is one step closer to realization. The CSOV vessel, based on a TWIN X-STERN platform designed by Ulstein Design & Solutions AS, will be capable of performing a vast range of operations, including Operation & Maintenance and construction support.
Press Release
Olympic Boreas CSOV – delivered and ready for offshore energy operations
The state-of-the-art 'Olympic Boreas' CSOV has been delivered to Olympic by Ulstein Verft on 25.07.2024. The vessel is the first of two sister vessels, based on the ULSTEIN SX222 design by Ulstein Design & Solutions AS.
Feature
Subsea and cable-laying: The next frontiers for the TWIN X-STERN
Aptly nicknamed ‘A 4-wheel-drive for the seas’, the ULSTEIN TWIN X-STERN is celebrated for its exceptional manoeuvrability. To date, this innovative feature has been incorporated into ten newbuilds, all designed for the walk-to-work market and measuring up to 90m in length. The next likely segments to adopt the TWIN X-STERN are subsea and cable-laying.
Update
Successful sea trial of the first CSOV for Olympic
10 June 2024: Yard number 318 from Ulstein Verft completed her sea trial this weekend. The state-of-the-art CSOV vessel includes sophisticated energy systems and the ULSTEIN TWIN X-STERN solution in a prototype combo.
Press Release
"Olympic Boreas" CSOV nominee for 'Ship of The Year 2024' Award
The Construction Service Operation Vessel (CSOV) "Olympic Boreas", set for delivery from Ulstein Verft in 2024, has been nominated for the 'Ship of The Year' award by the jury of the maritime magazine Skipsrevyen.
TWIN X-STERN E-book
In the e-book you can dive into topics such as:
- What is the ULSTEIN TWIN X-STERN?
- How does it work?
- What are the application areas?
And much more.
Redefining maritime efficiency
Experience transformative maritime efficiency with Ulstein's designs. We're setting new benchmarks in sustainable seafaring excellence by bridging fuel optimisation with heightened comfort and safety.
X-BOW®
The ULSTEIN X-BOW®, the inverted bow concept, redefined marine engineering. The bow concept was launched in 2005, together with the first shipbuilding contract, and gained immediate interest from shipowners. The X-BOW hull line design has been tried in most weather conditions.
X-STERN®
The X-STERN introduces the documented X-BOW® effect to the aft ship, harnessing the benefits of improved safety for crew and equipment, increased flexibility in operations and reduced fuel consumption.
TWIN X-STERN®
Imagine a vessel with the agility of a 4-wheel-drive but on the open seas. That’s the ULSTEIN TWIN X-STERN®, renowned for its unparalleled manoeuvrability. Its unique features distinguish it from others, and its exceptional quality lies beneath the waterline.
