Kongsberg Lands Full-Ship Systems Package for Solstad/SBM’s 4,000m Deepwater Newbuild
Kongsberg Maritime has secured a broad integrated-systems contract for the new multi-purpose deepwater installation and construction vessel being built for the 50.1% Solstad Offshore / 49.9% SBM Offshore joint venture at CIMC Raffles’ Haiyang base in China. The 132.6-meter vessel is scheduled for delivery in the first half of 2029 and is designed for FPSO installation, subsea construction, SURF work, mooring installation and IMR operations in water depths of up to 4,000 meters. Kongsberg’s package reaches well beyond bridge electronics, combining dynamic positioning, thruster control, propulsion, switchboards, generators, propulsion motors, battery energy storage, automation and heavy deck machinery. It will also include what Kongsberg expects to be the world’s largest anchor-handling winch, its first anchor-handling application of the new XT140 permanent-magnet motor, and handling equipment capable of working with chains up to 220 mm.
Operator Impact Snapshot
One supplier reaches from the bridge to the stern
Kongsberg's scope connects dynamic positioning, propulsion, thruster control, energy storage, switchboards, automation and deck machinery rather than treating each system as a separate equipment island.
220 mm chain handling moves the vessel into heavy territory
Shark jaws and tow pins are being designed around chains up to 220 mm, while the winch package includes what is expected to become the world's largest anchor-handling winch.
4,000-meter operations broaden the addressable project range
The vessel is designed for shallow and deepwater work including subsea installation, SURF, FPSO mooring, IMR and related construction activities at water depths reaching 4,000 meters.
A 14-year charter sits behind the newbuild
SBM Offshore has committed to an initial 14-year charter with at least 270 utilization days annually. Additional annual utilization can be exercised and the overall arrangement carries options extending another 11 years.
The equipment contract can extend far beyond delivery
Kongsberg says the integrated package creates opportunities for lifecycle support, remote monitoring and service agreements after the vessel enters operation in 2029.
The Kongsberg Package Reaches Across Six Operating Layers
The significant part of the award is not any single component. Propulsion, positioning, power and deck machinery are being designed to operate as a coordinated vessel system.
| Operating Layer | Equipment / System | Operational Function | Integration Point | Supply Position |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Dynamic Positioning | DP system and thruster control | Maintains vessel position during mooring installation, ROV work, lifting and subsea construction. | Continuously coordinates propulsion demand with available thruster and power capacity. | KONGSBERG |
| Propulsion | Twin CPP shaftlines, azimuth thrusters, rudders and complete thruster package | Transit propulsion, stationkeeping and high-thrust offshore maneuvering. | Linked directly with DP and power-management functions. | KONGSBERG |
| Power & Energy | Switchboards, generators, propulsion motors and battery energy storage | Supplies propulsion, deck machinery, hotel and mission loads. | Battery and generation can respond to changing peak loads from DP, winches and offshore operations. | INTEGRATED |
| Anchor Handling | High-capacity anchor-handling winches, shark jaws and tow pins | Mooring installation with chains up to 220 mm. | Winch operation is coordinated with vessel energy, automation, propulsion and DP systems. | KONGSBERG / IP HUSE |
| Heavy Lifting Winches | Two heavy-duty active-heave-compensated lifting winches | Compensates for vessel motion while handling heavy equipment through the water column. | Adds another rapidly changing load to the integrated vessel power and control architecture. | KONGSBERG |
| ROV Handling | Newly developed low-tilt ROV launch and recovery system | Deployment and recovery of remotely operated subsea vehicles. | Supports subsea operations alongside vessel positioning and deck-control systems. | KONGSBERG |
| Bridge & Automation | Navigation, bridge and automation systems | Provides the crew with vessel, navigation and machinery control. | Brings multiple mission-critical systems into a coordinated operational environment. | INTEGRATED |
| Primary Mission Crane | 500t AHC crane | Heavy subsea and offshore construction lifting. | A major vessel electrical and operational load, but the crane itself is separate from the announced Kongsberg package. | VESSEL EQUIPMENT |
Normand Installer
2029 Newbuild
DP, Winch, Crane & Battery Peak-Load Calculator
Test an offshore installation scenario where dynamic positioning, deck machinery, lifting and subsea systems demand power at the same time, then calculate the battery capacity needed to cover the peak.
Simultaneous Offshore Load Stack
The bars show the individual loads contributing to the entered installation or anchor-handling operation.
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