Norwegian shipbuilder Ulstein has launched the first vessel featuring the new X-Stern hull design at their Ulstein Verft shipyard in Ulsteinvik, Norway. 

The service operation vessel for the offshore wind industry is one of two being constructed for Bernhard Schulte Offshore, and will be working for Siemens.

The vessel is actually the first built by Ulstein Group for work in the renewable energy segment, in this case offshore wind supporting wind farm operations and maintenance, technician accommodation and transport, and safe reliable access to offshore installations.

The X-STERN was first introduced in 2014 as the successor to Ulstein’s popular X-BOW hull. The X-STERN is designed so that a vessel can be positioned with the stern faced towards the weather instead of the bow, leading to improved weather resistance, greater operability and reduced power and fuel consumption while on DP mode.

Both vessels for Bernhard Schulte are based on the SX175 design measuring 88 meters in length, a breadth of 18 meters, speed of 13.5 knots, and accommodation for 60 people.

Ulstein received the order for the vessels in January 2015 by Germany-based Bernhard Schulte through its offshore wind affiliate WINDEA Offshore, marking the first order for the X-STERN hull.