In September 2020, the three azimuth propulsion thrusters were installed in the cable-laying vessel 'Nexans Aurora', which is under construction at Ulstein Verft. Each thruster has an effect of 3,200 kW and a diameter of 2,900 mm.
The thrusters are part of a major delivery from Brunvoll, which also includes two bow thrusters (3,100 kW), and a retractable azimuth unit of 3,000kW.
Parallell work tasks
Multiple operations are going on at the same time during a ship construction newbuild project such as the 'Nexans Aurora'. The photo below shows the heave of one of the two tensioners, a Maats Tech delivery. The vessel is also currently being painted.
Aurora Expeditions' Douglas Mawson was officially named in Sydney on 27 November 2025 before embarking on her inaugural trip to Tasmania. This milestone marks history as the first expedition vessel featuring Ulstein’s X-BOW® design to operate in Australian waters. More than a striking visual signature, this pioneering hull shape represents a breakthrough in maritime engineering.
Guiding a nearly 150-metre-long newbuild vessel out of the dock hall with less than one metre of clearance on each side, while the wind presses from all directions, leaves no room for error. It demands meticulous planning, absolute precision, and a team that knows exactly what to do.
On 15 November 2025, Yard number 322 was successfully towed and positioned inside the dock hall at Ulstein Verft. The project is progressing according to plan, and key activities are now underway.