Ulstein Verft secures order from Bourbon for revolutionary AHTS

News - April 15, 2005

Ulstein Verft AS has signed a contract with Bourbon Offshore Norway, a subsidiary of Groupe Bourbon, for the construction of an Ulstein AX104 anchor handler, with an option for a second vessel.

The AX104 is an advanced new design with an inverted bow - the Ulstein X-Bow - diesel electric propulsion, and a number of interesting feature.

"The bow design eliminates slamming. The shape means the vessel can achieve higher speeds in all conditions, and fuel economy is good," reports Tore Ulstein, president of both Ulstein Design and Ulstein Verft.

The vessel will also to be equipped with a newly developed 'Safe Anchor Handling System' (SAHS) developed by Odim in Norway.

"We saw sketches of the Ulstein AX104 and liked the shape of it," said Bourbon Offshore Norway's managing director, Jostein Sætrenes. "The shape of the vessel stood out from any other offshore vessel we had seen. This has now been developed further in apartnership between the shipping company and the design company. Once the model tests also demonstrated exceptionally good results, we decided that this was a vessel we wanted to go for," he explained.

"We are pleased to note that Bourbon Offshore Norway is choosing us as its partner for such an exciting and innovative project," said Harald Møller, Ulstein Verft's sales manager. "If the option is exercised, the projects for Bourbon Offshore Norway willfill up our orderbook until the end of 2006. The contract vessel will be delivered in May next year and the option vessel in October. The hulls will be constructed at Maritim Ltd in Poland and the superstructure at Ulstein Verft's yard in Vanylven, while the vessels will be fitted out at Ulstein Verft in Ulsteinvik."