Capt. Tiew Sien Kheng, managing partner at Megamas, disclosed the contract at Ulstein's booth at the Nor-Shipping exhibition.
"The contract marks a significant milestone following the Letter of Intent (LOI) signed in May between Megamas and Lloyd Werft, paving the way for the potential construction of a state-of-the-art, multi-purpose cable laying vessel. Today’s agreement represents the first formal step toward realising this project," stated Kheng.
"Ulstein Design & Solutions AS, together with Lloyd Werft, will contribute its extensive expertise to deliver a high-specification, specialised vessel. Conceptual design work began in autumn 2023, centred on the ULSTEIN SX228 – a next-generation fibre-optic cable laying vessel (CLV)," he explained.
"We are thrilled to collaborate with Megamas Resources on this groundbreaking project. The ULSTEIN SX228 has been designed to meet the highest standards of efficiency and sustainability. Our team, alongside Lloyd Werft, is committed to delivering a vessel that not only meets but exceeds the expectations of the subsea telecommunications and renewable energy industries. This contract is a testament to our long expertise in offshore ship designs."
The ULSTEIN SX228 has a deadweight of 8,200 tonnes and a cable capacity of 5,500 tonnes. Measuring 121.7 metres in length with a 23-metre beam, the vessel has been specifically optimised for fibre-optic cable laying and is also prepared for future power cable operations. This includes an underdeck carousel integrated into the cable tanks.
Equipped with two firing lines and all necessary cable handling equipment within an enclosed working area, the vessel ensures safe and efficient operations in challenging offshore environments. Additional features include an ROV hangar for the cable trencher, a 50-tonne A-frame, and a bollard pull capacity of up to 120 tonnes for subsea ploughing.
"Developed in collaboration with Crewstone International Private Equity & Investments, the project addresses the global shortage of specialised offshore vessels. These vessels will play a key role in supporting both the renewable energy and subsea telecommunications industries," Kheng said, and concluded:
"The vessel is designed to meet DNV’s Clean (Design) and Recyclable class notations, underscoring Megamas’ commitment to sustainable practices and environmentally responsible shipbuilding. Megamas aims to deliver the first vessel by the end of 2027."
