Sx121 News

While new designs often grab headlines, mature designs that have enjoyed success are perhaps better indicators of true progress in marine technology. When the Ultstein X-Bow made its debut 10 years ago, some scoffed at the unusual design characteristics. They laugh no more, as the Ultstein X-Bow hull line design turns 10. Now in its tenth year, the 100th X-BOW shipbuilding contract was signed, and the X-BOW’s derivative, the X-STERN – a similar solution for the ship’s stern – has been contracted on its first two vessels.

When times are tough, it is still possible to nurture and grow good ideas, says Ulstein, an provider of ship design, shipbuilding and system solutions for ships. That’s the story behind the ULSTEIN X-BOW hull line design, which upon its introduction 10 years ago turned the image of the ship’s bow upside down. Now in its 10th year, the 100th X-BOW shipbuilding contract was signed, and the X-BOW’s derivative, the X-STERN – a similar solution for the ship’s stern – has been contracted on its first two vessels.

The subsea vessel Island Performer has been upgraded for her next assignment in the US. Ulstein Verft has installed cargo tanks and corresponding piping, a switchboard room for deck equipment and the sea fastening frame for stacks, as well as platforms for the tower winches. The tower has been upgraded, and cables are installed for future deck equipment. The vessel is now ready to load equipment for her US assignment, and will be leaving Norway shortly. Island Performer is an SX121 subsea vessel design, specialized for RLWI/IMR work. The ship has been designed and built by Ulstein, and was delivered from UIstein Verft in 2014. M/V “ISLAND PERFORMER” is an RLWI/IMR Vessel, designed and built by ULSTEIN.

Veteran Norwegian designer and builder Ulstein will, for the first time, build one of its signature X-Bow hull designs in the U.S., Maritime Reporter has learned. Edison Chouest Offshore’s LaShip shipyard in Louisiana is keen to build, and has found a Norwegian partner to share the risk. Judging by ever-evolving Ulstein business models and Jones Act strictures, Ulstein’s U.S. foray could lead to series production of the SX 165 offshore construction vessel. The U.S.-built combined light well-intervention and inspection, maintenance and repair vessel will be the second of the type.

The Ulstein Verft subsea newbuild, Island Performer, was delivered today to shipowner Island Offshore. The flexible, state-of-the-art RLWI/IMR vessel will serve her first five years for FTO in the Gulf of Mexico. “The vessel is customized to suit the scope of work in the FTO contract, in which RLWI (Riser-less Light Well Intervention) and IMR (Inspection/Maintenance/Repair) are the main tasks. She is able to perform operations at depths down to 3,000 meters, and the contracted work start at year’s end,” said Managing Director Håvard Ulstein, Island Offshore.

The offshore construction vessel Polar Onyx was delivered on March 4, 2014 from Ulstein Verft to GC Rieber Shipping, as the latest addition to their growing investments into the subsea segment. The vessel’s first assignment will be to work for deepwater projects serving as pipelay support vessel for Petrobras offshore Brazil. The 130-meter long and 25-meter wide Polar Onyx is based on ULSTEIN’s SX121 design, a design which is generally designed to operate in the IMR/SURF construction market, with high capacity for flexible pipe cargo below deck and on main deck. Irene W.

Ulstein contracts with Island Offshore & their American partner Edison Chouest Offshore for delivery of a multifunctional OSV. The offshore vessel is based on ULSTEIN’s SX121 design, prepared and tailored for the well intervention, IMR and SURF segments, and meets the latest requirements for both well intervention and offshore construction work. The newbuild is scheduled for delivery in May 2014. The ship will be based on the proven and solid SX121 design, a platform on which ULSTEIN has previously built five ships.

GC Rieber Shipping, the Norway-based harsh environment shipping specialist, has charged ULSTEIN with developing a high-capacity subsea vessel based on its SX121 design. This $141m million ship, ordered in June 2012, alongside an option for a sister vessel, has been commissioned in response to strong market desire for offshore construction support vessels (CSVs) for deep and harsh environments. Alongside state-of-the-art features, equipment and performance figures, the vessel will…

Ulstein Group joined forces with GC Rieber Shipping to provide a ship that refuses to accept failure, thanks to  pioneering ‘operation+’ philosophy. GC Rieber Shipping, the Norway-based harsh environment shipping specialist, has charged Ulstein with developing a high-capacity subsea vessel based on its SX121 design. This NOK 800 million ship, ordered in June 2012, alongside an option for a sister vessel, has been commissioned in response to strong market desire for offshore construction support vessels (CSVs) for deep and harsh environments.

The newbuilding will be delivered in the first quarter of 2014 and has a value of approximately NOK 800 million. The ship of SX121 design is to be equipped with a dynamic positioning system of the highest class (DP3). The subsea construction vessel is 130 metres long and 25 metres wide with a top speed of 14.5 knots. She will be equipped with a large active heave compensated offshore crane with 250 ton capacity at 14 metres outreach and with the winch placed below deck. The crane will mainly be used for lifting and lowering heavy equipment from and to the sea bottom.

The offshore construction vessel, Island Intervention, of the SX121 design from Ulstein was named. Shipowner Island Offshore has great expectations for the new vessel, which will carry out advanced operations in the Norwegian Sea this autumn. “Island Intervention will become an important addition to our fleet. This autumn, the vessel will be installing a series of production trees on the seabed in the Norwegian Sea for a Norwegian oil company. This is a complicated operation, but we are confident, that with the right crew, this vessel is the best equipment for the job.

Ulstein Verft has sold the construction vessel Karianne of SX121 type design to Island Offshore. The vessel was completed on time from ULSTEIN in the fourth quarter of 2010. The vessel was originally contracted by the shipping company Marine Subsea, which could not to take delivery of her after completion. CEO Gunvor Ulstein says she is very pleased that this advanced construction vessel will be in the hands of an experienced and established shipping company. - More and more oil installations are now seabed facilities, and we’re seeing an increasing demand for subsea and construction vessels.

Yard number 283 Sarah, type Ulstein SX121 Offshore Construction Vessel, was delivered to Marine Subsea on December 16. The vessel has been designed and constructed by Ulstein Group. The Ulstein SX121 offshore construction vessel features the characteristic Ulstein X-Bow, enabling her to operate under all weather conditions while remaining steady and comfortable for the crew. Equipped for 100 persons, the vessel is 393.7 ft long and 82 ft wide. She has a tower, moonpool, ROV hangar, crane and helideck. This is oil service company Marine Subsea’s first vessel from the Ulstein Group.

Photo courtesy: The Ulstein Group/Fuglefjellet. Island Constructor was launched recently at Ulstein Verft. “It is an impressive ship, and world-class innovation,” said Ulstein Verft project manager Runar Muren. The ship will be delivered to Island Offshore at the end of May. The vessel is first of the ULSTEIN S series, and she will be fitted with a large tower in order to carry out state-of-the-art well intervention offshore. The ULSTEIN SX121 is also the largest ULSTEIN X-BOW ship to date, measuring 120.2 m long and 25 m wide.

Marine Subsea Inc. signed a contract with Ulstein Verft for building an offshore construction vessel specialized in inspection, maintenance and repair operations (IMR/OCV) of the ULSTEIN SX121 design from Ulstein Design. The value of the contract is about $154.6m. The ship will be delivered in 2010 and is the fourth vessel of the type ULSTEIN SX121 from Ulstein Design. The vessel will be yard number 287 at Ulstein Verft. Marine Subsea Inc. has previously contracted a similar vessel from Ulstein Verft for delivery in July 2009. ”We have great faith in the Ulstein Group and are very satisfied working with Ulstein so far. In a pressured market with many delays in both equipment and deliveries, it is important to have a good dialog with the shipyard.