Ulstein Unveils New Cable Layer

Norwegian ship designer and shipbuilder Ulstein has introduced a new design for a cable laying vessel featuring an in-house developed Cable Arch system.

The LX109 vessel combines the Ulstein Cable Arch system with open top vessel design, resulting in a total of 12,500 tonnes of power cable that can be laid as one single piece, the company said in a statement.

This capacity was made possible by positioning the turntables into the hull instead of their conventional location on deck, which also improves the vessel’s stability, Ulstein said.

Locating the asymmetrical bridge aft, with the cable passing underneath, is expected to provide clear and unobstructed views on the cable lay work deck and cable stingers aft and the turntables forward.

The vessel also features a large hangar with ROV moonpool and workboat storage,as well as the X-BOW and X-STERNTM hull features.

“With this design we like to bring the cable lay market to the next level,” says Edwin van Leeuwen, Product Management Leader at Ulstein Design & Solutions.

“Using the ship and equipment knowledge available in the Ulstein Group, resulted in a revolutionary, truly integrated design, based on existing technologies. By focusing on a dedicated vessel for cable lay projects, we have been able to dramatically improve on project economy, seakeeping behaviour and fuel economy.”