Norwegian offshore service provider Olympic Subsea has placed an order for two next-generation offshore construction vessels (OCVs) to be built at the China Merchants Heavy Industry (CMHI) shipyard in Shenzhen. The agreement highlights the growing maritime collaboration between Norway and China, particularly in offshore energy and sustainable shipbuilding.
The vessels, developed in partnership with Kongsberg Maritime, will feature the UT7623 Sustainable Energy Vessel (SEV) design, incorporating cutting-edge technologies to enhance energy efficiency and minimize environmental impact. Scheduled for delivery in summer 2027, they are expected to play a significant role in offshore wind projects and subsea construction operations.
While the vessels will be built in China, the project will generate contracts worth approximately NOK 1 billion for Norwegian businesses, with NOK 700 million benefiting the maritime cluster in Northwestern Norway. This ensures that Norwegian expertise in ship design, technology, and equipment manufacturing remains central to the development.
Stig Remøy, Olympic Subsea’s majority owner, emphasized the company’s commitment to sustainability.
“These vessels will set a new standard for energy consumption and leave an extremely low climate footprint,” Stig Remøy states.
The collaboration between Olympic Subsea, Kongsberg Maritime, and CMHI represents a strong bilateral engagement between Norway and China in the maritime sector, combining Norwegian innovation with Chinese shipbuilding capacity.
With offshore wind and subsea energy projects expanding globally, the investment further strengthens Norway’s position in sustainable offshore operations, while reinforcing China’s role as a key shipbuilding partner for European firms.
Read more about the project here.
