ULSTEIN’s latest design contract for Vroon Offshore Services pushes the total number of offshore ship designs sold past the 100 mark. This milestone has been achieved in 14 years, with 74 of the contracts signed for the X-BOW design.
The ULSTEIN designs includes areas such as offshore construction, IMR, seismic, standby/rescue, platform supply and anchor handling tug supply.(Image Credit: ULSTEIN)
2005 marked the launch of the X-BOW. This revolutionary design, first seen on the AHTS ‘Bourbon Orca’, reduces movements and eliminates wave slamming and bow impact, stabilising the work platform and improving comfort on board. The unique lines of the hull create tangible performance benefits, with positive effects on fuel-efficiency, speed, and motions, which extend the operational window, especially under poor weather conditions and in rough seas. Test results show that the shape of the hull reduces power consumption by 7-8 per cent compared to vessels with conventional hull lines.
The success of the concept is not only reflected in its sales figures, but also its critical reception. Following on from the delivery of the ‘Bourbon Orca’ in 2006, X-BOW vessels have been nominated for, or have won, the ‘Ship of the Year’ Award in almost every year of competition. In 2013 ULSTEIN’s inspection/maintenance/repair (IMR) vessel ‘Seven Viking’ received the prestigious prize.
The latest contract on two PX121 PSVs(ship numbers 100 and 101) that was ordered by Vroon Offshore Services (Netherlands), will beconstructedat COSCO (Guangdong) shipyard in China. The vessels are destined for European waters, and managing director in Vroon Offshore Service, Jan-Piet Baars, comments: The PX121 design is part of the new generation of PSVs and it will offer, especially in harsher environments, a unique combination of world class client service delivery, high efficiency and impressive crew comfort.
