SeaOwls and Ulstein end partnership

The companies, who partnered in October 2016, launched the scaleable ‘SOUL’ heavy-lift jack-up vessel design in February 2017. The patent rights of the concept were developed under the cooperation of both companies and will continue to be held by both SeaOwls and Ulstein. Each company will pursue its own business opportunities based on the shared patent.

Erik Snijders, founder and managing director of SeaOwls, said: “The agreement on the SOUL patent enables SeaOwls to market and realise their S-series of heavy lift jack-up vessels. In the past two years, SeaOwls has developed a range of heavy lift jack-up vessels and barges, based on the patented concept characteristics.

“Our continuous focus on the structure and the integration of jack-up technology with ship design has resulted in the design of the perfect jack-up vessel to transport and install monopiles, jacket foundations and offshore wind turbines.”

In a joint statement, the companies said: “SeaOwls and Ulstein are committed to assist their clients to build the most suitable jack-up vessel to enable the industry to take the next step to a sustainable world.”

Efficient design

SOUL was designed to be suitable for various crane sizes, variable loads, deck lay-outs, etc., to serve the (future) needs of offshore wind industry and operations in the offshore oil and gas market. The design aims to offer efficiency, both in logistical lay-out as in pay load capacity.

By Rebecca Jeffrey