The construction project of the cable lay vessel 'Nexans Aurora' has recently reached a new milestone, as the installation of the MAATS Tech equipment package including the carousel, loading arms, access tower and control cabin have now been completed.
All the abovementioned equipment are MAATS Tech Ltd deliveries, and employees from Maats have been working at the yard for several weeks for the installations and testing of the cable lay equipment.
The next milestone will be the heeling test. The 'Nexans Aurora' is due for delivery to Nexans this year, and her first assignments will be in the offshore wind segment.
Fuel costs are rising, emission requirements are tightening, and vessel owners are searching for long-term energy solutions. A concept study by Ulstein indicates that a nuclear hybrid solution could reduce conventional fuel consumption by more than 50%, and in some operational modes eliminate it entirely.
In expedition cruising, time at the destination is the product being sold. A vessel that arrives hours earlier at its destination creates more time for guest experiences. That time can be converted into additional landings, extra Zodiac excursions, more wildlife encounters and, ultimately, a richer expedition experience.
Effective from 1 September 2026, Knut L. Barstad assumes the position of Managing Director of Ulstein Verft. Barstad currently serves as Deputy Managing Director at the yard and has worked at Ulstein since 2018.
