Norwegian owner to retrofit offshore wind vessel for oil and gas work

Olympic has secured a five-year charter contract to service the platforms from AkerBP and has signed a contract with Ulstein Verft to convert the vessel. The ship will be modified to meet the specifications and requirements for servicing unmanned installations on the Norwegian shelf.

Once the retrofit has taken place and the vessel has entered into operation, the gangway on Olympic Notos will remain permanently connected to the platform as long as personnel are on the installations. The walk-to-work solution will serve as the primary evacuation route for the platforms.

Olympic Notos is a hybrid-powered commissioning service operation vessel of Ulstein SX222 design. It was built by Ulstein Verft and delivered to Olympic in 2024.

Since delivery, Olympic Notos has been in continuous operation, demonstrating exceptional fuel efficiency and receiving what Ulstein described “outstanding feedback” from major offshore wind clients.

“Customers particularly highlight the vessel’s combination of comfort, operability, and efficiency, both in terms of fuel consumption and operational performance,” said the yard.

Ulstein Verft said repurposing the vessel as a walk-to-work unit will provide it with extensive work. The retrofit is already underway, with design work led by Ulstein Design & Solutions. Throughout the autumn, Ulstein Verft will prefabricate components for use in the project.

The conversion is scheduled to take place at the beginning of 2026, and the vessel is expected to be ready for offshore operations by Q2 2026.