The CMHI shipyard in Shenzhen, China, has begun the construction of two methanol-ready dual-fuel multipurpose subsea vessels for Norway’s Olympic Subsea.
Olympic Subsea reported that earlier in April the keel laying for the first vessel and the first steel cutting for the second vessel took place at the CMHI Shenzhen shipyard.
The vessels will be ready to run on methanol and will feature battery hybrid technology, with delivery on track for the summer of 2027. They will operate in both the renewable energy and oil & gas sectors, featuring advanced technologies that are said to exceed the Paris Agreement requirements.
The duo has been designed by Kongsberg Maritime in accordance with the UT7623 sustainable energy vessel (SEV) design, under a contract announced in March 2025 .
Described as the most energy-efficient in their category, the extensive package of integrated technology will encapsulate rim-drive electric azimuth propulsion, retractable azimuth bow thrusters, switchboards, and thruster drives, hybrid battery power, an integrated bridge system, automation and control systems, a dynamic positioning system, tank sounding, mooring winches, and an overhead ROV launch and recovery system (LARS).