The CRIST S.A. shipyard in Gdynia hosted the launching of a partially equipped, single-hull vessel for Ulstein Verft, with the working number NB318, to service a wind farm. The shipyard's cooperation with this shipowner has lasted for nearly 10 years, resulting in the handover of more than a dozen launched vessels.

This is a significant moment for the entire project, which began with a sheet cutting ceremony on November 18, 2022. The ship is being built for Norwegian shipowner Olympic, and Ulstein Verft commissioned the construction in 2022. The Polish subcontractor was tasked with building the hull, which was also partially retrofitted on its site. Then, after a successful launch, the vessel is to be shipped to Norway, where it will be completed and handed over to the ordering party.

The vessel is based on the Ulstein SX222 design and is 89.6 meters long and 19.2 meters wide. Her hull m to provide efficient performance in terms of fuel and energy consumption, as well as having considerable maneuverability, stability and payload capacity, She is thus to be able to meet the general requirements of the offshore wind industry in performing such tasks as carrying personnel, cargo, oil fuel, tank water, spare parts and other general cargoes under and on open decks. Battery-assisted propulsion and the use of methanol as fuel are also expected to ensure environmental performance, in line with the policy of decarbonizing the environment and reducing CO2 emissions. The vessel will have 91 cabins, accommodating a maximum of 126 people. In addition, the vessel is equipped with a cargo system designed to ensure safety and enable efficient loading and unloading. It is also distinguished by optimization for the smooth and efficient performance of technicians and the movement of cargo on board, with the aim of minimizing the manual handling of cargo, tools and spare parts.

Ulstein Verft is a regular customer of CRIST S.A. shipyard. The cooperation is very fruitful, as can be seen by the number of completed projects. Ulstein has a patent for the unconventional shape of the bow and stern, with which Crist is already familiar. The shipyard has been working to their standards for years. It builds the hulls on an ongoing basis during the creation and weekly flow of documentation. The two companies have developed a mutual trust in each other, which allows them to proceed with the prefabrication of future vessels.

Further finishing and retrofitting of the vessel will be carried out at the Norwegian shipyard in Ulstein, as well as sea trials, followed by its handover to the ordering party. This does not end the tasks for CRIST S.A., as work is currently underway in Gdynia on a twin vessel with construction number NB319. Sheet cutting for it took place on December 30 last year, while the keel was laid on March 14 this year.