Vessel conversions and re‑mobilisations demand more than drawings and calculations. Recent work on Orient Adventurer, now being prepared for cable-laying operations, demonstrates how critical in-depth knowledge of a vessel’s operational history is to deliver safe, class-approved solutions. Through Ulstein’s aftermarket services, we support complex vessel upgrades with engineering, stability, and weight expertise, including planning and executing inclining tests for conversion and life‑extension projects.

On Tuesday, 24 March, a large-scale rescue exercise was carried out off the coast of Lofoten, Norway, testing a new emergency towing system for ships. The cruise vessel MS Spitsbergen, with 150 passengers on board, the Norwegian Coast Guard vessel KV Barentshav, and the 330 Squadron’s SAR Queen rescue helicopter took part.

How can you be confident that a new vessel design will actually perform in rough seas and demanding operations? The answer lies in thorough verification, independent testing and documented performance. Recently, a new Ulstein design for a cable-laying vessel was tested in a large-scale ocean basin at SINTEF Ocean. The results delivered exactly what Ulstein seeks: confidence that the design performs as intended.

On 11 March 2026, Ulstein Verft, Norway, delivered the Windea Carnot, a Commissioning Service Operation Vessel (CSOV). The vessel was built on behalf of an institutional investor and has now been handed over to its new owner, Bernhard Schulte Offshore (BSO).

Ulsteinvik, Norway, 10 March 2026  – Jan De Nul has selected a customised vessel design from Ulstein Design & Solutions AS for its latest addition to its offshore fleet. The realisation of the trenching vessel marks a milestone in the collaboration between two leading maritime innovators. The vessel is scheduled for delivery in 2028. The basic design is based on a robust and globally proven subsea vessel design.

As offshore oil and gas developments become more complex, operators are rethinking how fields are designed, operated, and supported. For Aker BP, this shift is clearly visible in the Yggdrasil development, the largest ongoing project on the Norwegian Continental Shelf.

Ulstein Power & Control has signed a contract to deliver complete hybrid power and automation systems for two cable-laying vessels to be built for OMS Group at Ulstein Verft. “This is an important contract for us and confirms our position as a leading supplier of systems for complex maritime operations,” says Peter Pilskog, Managing Director of Ulstein Power & Control.

An expedition cruise takes you to the edges of the world, places that remain wild, remote and profoundly beautiful. As exploration gives way to evening, the transition back to the ship feels seamless, from raw landscapes to effortless luxury.

Faster delivery, lower emissions and reduced costs - the subsea sector is now expected to achieve all three simultaneously. At the OSJ Subsea Conference 2026, Ulstein’s Chief Designer, Øyvind Gjerde Kamsvåg, outlined how repurposing can meet these demands and, in many cases, outperform newbuild strategies. 

Ulstein Verft's yard number 322, the CSOV Genesis Sea, is about to conclude a successful sea trial, a major milestone in the newbuild project.

Norway’s maritime sector is experiencing one of its strongest periods in decades, driven by national growth and the exceptional performance of the Møre og Romsdal cluster, home to Ulstein and many leading companies.

For Norway, the relationship with the sea is so fundamental that it is reflected even in the country’s currency. For centuries, people have relied on the sea, not for conquest or adventure, but for survival, transport and connection. Long before the age of the Vikings, boats were already an essential part of everyday life, shaped by the need to operate safely and reliably in open, often unforgiving waters. Rock carvings and archaeological finds show that early vessels were carefully adapted to their environment, evolving over generations through experience rather than ambition.

When the expedition cruise vessel, 'Greg Mortimer', entered service in 2019, she marked a turning point for the industry. Today, several years and countless voyages later, she stands as a proven reference for a new generation of expedition cruise ships.

OMS Group, a leading provider of subsea digital infrastructure, has signed contracts with Ulstein, a world-renowned designer and builder of advanced offshore vessels, for the design and construction of two cable-laying vessels. 

What made a seasoned veteran, a newly qualified engineer and an eager apprentice choose Ulstein – and how do they see the future? Step into the everyday working lives of Adolf, Nicholine and Jonas, and gain an insight into a workplace in constant development, spanning everything from the very first working day to more than fifty years in the same company.