Kongsberg Maritime - Experts & Thought Leaders

Kongsberg Maritime has announced the introduction of two new sizes to its popular UUC PM (Underwater Mountable, Permanent Magnet) azimuth thruster range, expanding its offering for high-efficiency propulsion solutions for demanding offshore and marine operations. The new additions to the UUC PM 405 model include units with 3.8m and 4.1m propeller diameters, delivering 86 and 91 metric tons of thrust, respectively. Evolving offshore energy sectors Kongsberg Maritime is also preparing to extend the UUC PM range further, with future models offering up to 5.5m diameter and power ratings of 6000 kW. This roadmap supports the company’s ambition to support larger vessels and more demanding applications, for the evolving offshore energy sector. "The introduction of these new sizes reflects our focus on meeting customer needs for flexibility and power in offshore operations," said Pasi Villanen, Product Manager, Thrusters, Kongsberg Maritime. "Permanent magnet technology allows us to deliver higher thrust in a smaller footprint, which is critical for vessels operating in challenging environments." Extensive experience delivering turnkey thruster The UUC PM thruster range is engineered for easy underwater mounting and removal, significantly reducing vessel downtime and cutting maintenance costs. Combined with the extensive experience delivering turnkey thruster change-outs for major drilling customers with record-breaking delivery times, this ensures time-efficient lifecycle maintenance for operators. Other demanding dynamic positioning applications With the ability to store spare units in key global locations and entrust Kongsberg Maritime with full maintenance project management, customers gain a truly turnkey lifecycle support solution – minimising planned maintenance interruptions and ensuring dependable performance with rapid return to operation. Together with built-in sensors enabling live condition monitoring, the underwater mounting capability and advanced permanent magnet motor technology deliver exceptional efficiency, reliability, and serviceability, making these thrusters the ideal choice for offshore support vessels, drilling rigs, and other demanding dynamic positioning applications.

Kongsberg Maritime has signed a major contract with Sea1 Offshore to deliver Launch and Recovery Systems (LARS) for the company’s four new offshore construction vessels. Each vessel will be equipped with two advanced LARS units, supporting subsea construction and ROV operations. The scope of supply per vessel includes two telescopic A-frames, fully electrical umbilical winches, energy-efficient hydraulic power units, and a dedicated control system. Each system offers a safe working load of 15 tonnes (vehicle dry weight) and winch cable capacity of 4,500 metres, ensuring robust performance for deep-water operations. Reliable and efficient systems Kongsberg Maritime is a trusted partner for offshore handling solutions, with decades of experience delivering reliable and efficient systems to the global market. This contract reinforces the company’s position as a leading provider of technology that ensures safe and sustainable operations for demanding offshore environments. “The award of this contract demonstrates our renewed commitment to delivering world-class handling solutions for the offshore industry,” said Ingar Hovden, Sales Manager, Kongsberg Maritime. “Our LARS technology combines proven engineering with modern efficiency features, helping operators achieve safe and sustainable operations.” Kongsberg Maritime’s LARS solutions Andreas Kjøl, CCO of Sea1 Offshore, added: “We are confident those state-of-the-art WROV Launch and Recovery Systems will give us market-pioneering operability in harsh environment operations with the equipment fully integrated to the vessels’ power electric and energy storage systems.” Kongsberg Maritime’s LARS solutions deliver a wide range of benefits that enhance operational safety and efficiency. They provide controlled launch and recovery even in challenging sea states, reducing risk and improving reliability. Inclusion of hydraulic power units The systems are designed with a compact and modular approach, making them easy to integrate on different vessel types while maintaining high durability and minimising downtime. Operators benefit from optimised handling for ROVs and subsea equipment, ensuring smooth and efficient missions. Environmental performance is also a key advantage. The inclusion of hydraulic power units with frequency control reduces emissions and energy consumption, supporting sustainability goals without compromising operational capability. Advanced control systems provide precise and responsive handling, enabling safe and accurate operations for complex subsea tasks.

Kongsberg Maritime is marking a major milestone: 50 years since the introduction of its first Dynamic Positioning (DP) system, a Norwegian innovation that transformed offshore operations and set new standards for safety and efficiency at sea. The story began in the mid-1970s, when offshore operations in the North Sea faced harsh conditions and dangerous anchoring practices. A breakthrough came in 1977 with the successful live test of the world’s first Norwegian DP system on Stolt-Nielsen’s vessel Seaway Eagle. This pioneering technology allowed vessels to maintain position without anchors, using sensors and thrusters to counteract wind, waves and currents in real time. It was a revolution that made offshore work safer and more precise. New era of offshore operations "If it hadn’t been for DP, there would have been no oil adventure," says Vegard Sæterlid, Head of Positioning and Manoeuvring at Kongsberg Maritime. "Dynamic Positioning changed everything. It gave operators the ability to work safely in some of the harshest conditions on earth, and it opened the door to an entirely new era of offshore operations. What started as a bold idea in the 1970s is now a technology that underpins thousands of vessels worldwide and continues to evolve for the future." Advanced sensor data with power management Jonny Hauge, SVP Bridge and Remote Systems, added: "Today we are celebrating a piece of industrial history in Norway. DP began with a few customers and became the most important technology for starting the oil adventure. From the beginning to what we see today, our customers rely on us for everything from subsea infrastructure to sustainable operations like offshore wind. We are still in the lead and guiding our customers toward success." Since then, Kongsberg Maritime has remained at the forefront of DP innovation. Now, more than 4,000 of its systems operate worldwide on offshore vessels, semi-submersible platforms, wind-farm service ships and aquaculture vessels. The latest generation, K-Pos, combines advanced sensor data with power management and intuitive user interfaces, enabling operators to maintain position efficiently while reducing fuel consumption and emissions. Modern maritime operations Dynamic Positioning is now a cornerstone of modern maritime operations, supporting everything from offshore energy projects to research and autonomous vessels. It is also a key enabler of future concepts such as remote and unmanned operations, helping the industry achieve greater sustainability and safety. As Kongsberg Maritime celebrates this 50-year legacy, the company continues to drive innovation for the next era of offshore operations, ensuring that DP technology remains synonymous with reliability, efficiency and progress.