High-capacity cable layer unveiled

According to the company, the new, patent-pending Ulstein Cable Arch system in combination with open-top vessel design results in an unprecedented total of 12,500 tonnes of power cable that can be laid as a single piece.
The Ulstein Cable Arch connects the forward and aft turntables, and the 12,500-tonne capacity is made possible by positioning the turntables into the hull instead of their conventional location on deck, improving the vessel’s stability, Ulstein says. The company has also applied this feature on a rock-installation vessel currently under construction, resulting in what Ulstein says is a slim ship that can transport and lay cable much more efficiently than conventional vessel designs with larger beams.
Locating the asymmetrical bridge aft, with the cable passing underneath, provides clear and unobstructed views of the cable-lay work deck and cable stingers aft and turntables forward, Ulstein says. Furthermore, the vessel has a large hangar with ROV moon pool and workboat storage. Together with Ulstein's X-Bow® and X-Stern™ hull features, this results in a very cost-efficient, safe and comfortable platform with superior operational uptime and transit speed compared with more traditional cable-laying units, according to the company.