Kongsberg Maritime has secured a contract to deliver a fully integrated suite of technology and equipment for a new multi-purpose deepwater installation and construction vessel that will be owned and operated by Solstad Offshore and SBM Offshore.
The vessel, which will be built in China, represents a new generation of offshore construction assets designed to perform complex installation, subsea construction and heavy-duty offshore operations. With advanced mooring installation and subsea construction capabilities at its core, the vessel is expected to set a new benchmark for performance, operational efficiency and reliability in some of the world’s most demanding offshore environments.
Lisa Edvardsen Haugan, President of Kongsberg Maritime, said: “This contract highlights the strength of our integrated offering and our long-standing partnerships across the offshore sector. By combining energy management, propulsion, dynamic positioning and advanced deck machinery into one coordinated solution, we enable safer and more efficient offshore operations. Mooring installation capability is central to this vessel, and our high-capacity winch systems are designed to deliver exceptional performance, precision and reliability under the most demanding conditions.”
A key element of the project is the advanced deck machinery package from Kongsberg Maritime. This includes anchor-handling winches, shark jaws and tow pins designed for chains up to 220 mm, and a newly developed low-tilt ROV launch and recovery system.
Kongsberg Maritime’s scope of supply also includes dynamic positioning, thruster control, navigation, bridge and automation systems, together with a comprehensive power and energy package comprising switchboards, generators, propulsion motors and a battery energy storage system. The propulsion configuration will feature twin controllable-pitch propeller (CPP) shaftline propulsion, complemented by azimuth thrusters to enhance bollard pull, as well as rudder systems and a complete thruster package.
The project will also mark the first delivery of anchor-handling winches powered by Kongsberg Maritime’s in-house developed permanent magnet motor, the XT140, representing a significant technological milestone.
In June of this year, a joint venture between Solstad Offshore and SBM Offshore formally signed a contract with CIMC Raffles for the construction of a next-generation deepwater multi-purpose offshore installation and construction vessel. According to information previously disclosed by the shipowners, the new vessel is expected to be delivered in the first half of 2029.
In recent years, CIMC Raffles has continued to deepen its expertise in the high-end offshore engineering equipment sector, accumulating extensive experience in the design, construction, and project delivery of FPSOs, offshore platforms, offshore support vessels, and specialized engineering vessels, and has established a comprehensive international engineering management and manufacturing system.
Headquartered in Norway, Solstad Offshore is one of the world’s leading offshore engineering vessel owners. It operates a large, state-of-the-art fleet and possesses extensive project operational experience in offshore oil and gas development, marine engineering construction, and offshore renewable energy.
Headquartered in the Netherlands, SBM Offshore is a major player in the global marine energy industry and a global leader in the design, construction, installation, and long-term operation of Floating Production, Storage, and Offloading (FPSO) units. The company possesses deep technical expertise and extensive global project experience in deepwater oil and gas development and integrated engineering services.