Green Yard Kleven Green Yard Kleven has this week successfully completed a large conversion project. The 80 meter long ship is converted from operation in Walk to work market for the energy sector and into cable lay and repair services.

- We are very proud to deliver such a great ship, and we are grateful for the trust NTT World Engineering Marine Corp, which is a company from the other side of the globe, has shown us throughout the entire project, says CEO Hans Jørgen Fedog. Our employees and subcontractors have really worked hard throughout the project.

The ship was originally built as an MT6007 seismic vessel but was later converted into a "Walk to work" vessel for offshore wind. Green Yard Kleven has now rebuilt it again, this time into a vessel for lay and repair of fiber cable. The owner NTT is one of the largest telecommunications companies in Asia.

- It has been a challenging project for NTT World Engineering Marine Corp, but we are extremely grateful to Green Yard Kleven, Marin Teknikk and many other involved for their cooperation in helping us complete an excellent cable-laying vessel.” Says Mr. Mamoru Watanabe CEO of NTT World Engineering Marine Corp

Sustainable project

Throughout the process, both shipyards and shipowners have had a strong focus on sustainability and reduced environmental footprint in the project.

In the ship, which is based on an existing hull, we have used second-hand equipment and existing components as much as possible. This has contributed to a reduction in CO2 emissions of 919 tons!

If you also count on CO2 saved on the hull at least 4,500 tons of CO2 emissions is saved compared to building a new ship. All equipment and components that is reused is tested and reapproved to ensure the function and reliability.

The cable lay equipment is brand new, from the English supplier Parkburn, and is state of the art equipment.

Social sustainability is at least as important in the project. At our shipyard, all employees have a general tariff agreement, and we carefully monitor that our subcontractors comply with the regulations. HSE is in focus at all levels, and we have both apprentices and students on the team.

- It is really great to see that shipowners from the other side of the globe come to our yard in Ulsteinvik to do conversions. It is special nice to see that this is happening because of our commitment to sustainability, expertise and quality, says Sales Manager Retrofit Karl Johan Barstad.

Good cooperation

Design and Engineering is carried out by Marin Teknikk, who was also the original designer when the ship was new. This is a proof of the flexibility of the MT design, as this is the 2nd conversion of the ship into new markets. This is one of many projects where Green Yard and Marin Teknikk have collaborated on both new builds and conversions.

Grieg Shipbrokers in Bergen and Aki Ace Offshore in Japan contributed greatly to getting the project in place, both with finding a suitable hull and connecting shipowner, shipyard and designer together towards an agreement.

Marin Teknikk have had a long relationship with NTT World Engineering Marine Corp and Aki Ace Offshore in Japan for more than 25 years. MT was contacted in the autumn of 2022 and started on a concept study for NTT. “We are happy that this ended up in a contract at Green Yard Kleven and humble and proud for being part of the Project with providing the design and all technical documentation for the Cable lay & repair vessel conversion of the flexible MT design, says Sales director Richard Gjerde at MT and add in “MT would also like to thank the NTT team, GYK, Grieg, Bureau Veritas class, and all parties involved for a well-executed collaboration”.

Steel modules of over 600 tonnes have been installed on the ship. A new hangar has been fitted for the cable handling equipment. Two additional deck cranes, traverse crane and large sheaves aft to guide the cable overboard. Inside the ship there are three compartments for cable. Engines have been overhauled, DP system upgraded and the whole ship has been freshly painted in the company's colors.

All the way from the signing of the contract in August 2023, the project has been exciting and educational, and with good cooperation between shipowner, shipyard, designer and subcontractors. This has resulted in a fantastic end result, says CEO Hans Jørgen Fedog of Green Yard Kleven.

- The project has largely been carried out via Teams meetings with the ship owner in the process. Japanese and Norwegian culture and language are very different, but we learn each other's cultures and have become a good team. We hope we can do more projects together in the future.

The ship will now directly enter into a contract for cable work in Asian waters. VEGA II will replace the more than 40-year-old ship "VEGA" and join the fleet of cable ships belonging to NTT that carry out installation and service on underwater communication cables.

Green Yard has several exciting ongoing projects at both yards, but we always have room for more. We notice good activity in all our market areas.