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.

In the vast expanse of offshore wind energy, cable-laying vessels are essential—the silent architects of our renewable future. As wind farms grow larger and more ambitious, the demand for efficient cable installations has intensified. Enter the ULSTEIN SX225, a vessel designed to tackle the challenges head-on.

The offshore vessel market is experiencing a surge of optimism thanks to high growth rates and the highest-ever backlog of major subsea EPC (Engineering, Procurement, and Construction) contractors. 

On 19 January 2024, on the day four months after signing the shipbuilding contract, Nexans Marine Operations AS and Ulstein Verft could celebrate the start of the construction of Nexans’ next cable laying vessel. Attending the steel cutting ceremony at the Crist hull yard were representatives from Nexans, Ulstein Verft, DNV and Crist.

Fulfilling the increasing needs of the offshore wind transportation sector

Ulstein Design & Solutions AS has been contracted for the conceptual design of a cable laying and repair vessel.  

On 20 July 2023, U.S. President Joe Biden attended the steel-cutting ceremony of the subsea rock installation (SRI) vessel 'Acadia', under construction at Philly Shipyard. Designed by Ulstein Design & Solutions B.V., this will be the first of its kind U.S.-built vessel.

Bernhard Schulte Offshore returns to Ulstein Verft for the design and construction of two Commissioning Service Operation Vessels (CSOVs) of the ULSTEIN SX222 design. The contract includes options for four additional vessels.

The DP3 Cable Laying Vessel, Nexans Aurora’, was named at Ulstein Verft on 8 June 2021. The lady sponsor is Mrs Anne Lise Aukner, former Managing Director of Nexans Norway.

The final milestone of the Aurora construction adventure was reached today, on 31 May 2021, when the DP3 Cable Lay Vessel ‘Nexans Aurora’, the state-of-the-art flagship of the Nexans fleet, was delivered from Ulstein Verft.

Snow-covered mountain tops, green hillsides and a bright sun on a blue sky make a perfect frame for the lady in red, the CLV vessel ‘Nexans Aurora’, on her sea trial. A sunny mood also characterizes the atmosphere on board the vessel.

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.

12 February 2021: During the past few days of the shipbuilding project of the CLV Nexans Aurora, the outer part of the carousel has been mounted. Currently we are installing the fairings.

During the time span of 2.5 days and after 272 heaves, the carousel equipment for the cable lay vessel Nexans Aurora has been offloaded at Ulstein Verft.

On 8 November 2020, Nexans’ next-generation Cable Laying Vessel, the ‘Nexans Aurora’ was launched at Ulstein Verft. The 149.9 m long and 31 m wide vessel will be working in the offshore renewables market, installing subsea cables including cables connecting offshore wind farms to the grid and interconnector systems.