Ulstein enters the shallows

The Ulstein S182 is intended to support a wide variety of offshore operations including cable laying, offshore construction, shallow water installations, dive support, rock installation and salvage works. The mooring system and DP2 dynamic positioning capabilities (with a DP3 upgrade available) will allow the vessel to operate autonomously in shallow water and offshore areas at 4.5m draught.

The new design features a large and strong open work deck suitable to accommodate a carousel of up to 30m diameter. A large cargo hold below deck offers around 10,000dwt capacity. A main offshore crane of up to 400 tonnes can be located in the side of the vessel, while a passage way below main deck is created between aft casings and accommodation, a safety feature avoiding people having to cross the open work deck.

Unusually, speed was not a main consideration, explained Edwin van Leeuwen, managing director at Ulstein Design & Solutions. “Given the capex target that we have set ourselves, we decided that speed will be a result of the design rather than a design driver as it is in most designs. Speed requirements often have a big impact on installed power, easily spiraling up vessel capex.”

The company is targeting markets in southeast Asia, the Middle East and Africa as a priority, although Ulstein said it also saw a strong market for the vessel in North Sea cable laying operations.