Continuous innovation

Our philosophy

Kongsberg Maritime has a proud heritage of designing pioneering vessels that are at the leading edge of technological developments. From setting the benchmark that set the standard for offshore supply vessels in the 1970s, to advanced anchor handlers that transformed the oil and gas industry, and a growing reference list in fishery and merchant ships, the range of designs has continued to evolve.

– There are three main parts to our ship design philosophy and the first is always safety. Our vessels frequently operate in the toughest conditions in the world. People go to work on these ships, whether it’s servicing oil rigs, fishing or undertaking scientific research, and that’s why safety remains at the forefront of our thinking, 50 years on. 

– Whether it’s about good seakeeping, safe operations on deck or the transportation of hazardous cargoes, we have a laser-sharp focus on the safety requirements of each ship.

–  Operational efficiency is another crucial element. Ship owners and operators invest many millions in their fleets and they demand vessels that can operate efficiently for decades. We work with them to fine-tune specifications and develop ships tailored for their exact requirements. Designing a ship is one thing, but understanding how they are operated is another, and with 1,000 ships designed so far, we can tap into a huge pool of operational experience and data, to continue evolving our designs.

– The most significant driver impacting how we design ships today is sustainability. It’s not only regulators that are demanding ships have lower emissions. Owners, faced with higher fuel costs, want vessels that use less energy, so there is a shift towards more electrification and battery-hybrid solutions. The use of alternative fuels is another exciting area for us and we’ve already had approval to proceed with ships using methanol and ammonia fuels.

Integrating innovation

– We have a very experienced team with access to world-class design tools and engineering services. Our team includes naval architects and technology specialists within all disciplines, including extensive experience and understanding of hydrodynamical optimisation, which has been one of our key success factors over many years. Also, we are part of a global technology company which gives us access to a wealth of innovative solutions, which can be incorporated into our ships. That combined knowledge, together with more than 1,000 ship references and deep and lasting relationships with many customers, gives us a unique capability to offer modern solutions in an efficient way. 

– Perhaps we are often most recognised for our system integration capabilities but, in terms of ship design, that’s not the full story. While Kongsberg Maritime produces a large range of products and systems, from highly efficient propulsion to deck machinery and advanced bridge systems, naturally we look at how we can best combine our equipment into our ship designs. 

– Sometimes that means we provide a ship with a lot of our equipment into an integrated solution, such as the oceanographic research ships, or large anchor handler designs. Other times we work with customers to incorporate other technology in a way that can operate within our designs.

– A great recent example of this approach is with our customer Terntank, who to date have ordered nine chemical tankers with our design. With the latest batch of ships, they have opted to use wind-assist technology. We don’t produce these sails, but we work closely with other providers to offer advice and integrate the latest technology. These vessels are the next generation ship and, through a progressive approach to introducing new technologies, we are delivering ships with an energy efficiency index 40 per cent lower than the current IMO requirements.

– Today, our latest ship designs for the offshore energy market address the demanding future requirements of the industry, be that oil and gas or the high-growth arena of offshore wind. Our new range of platform supply vessels and anchor handlers have been designed with a range of features to enable future transition from operating in oil and gas to offshore wind. This means our latest designs are adaptable, enabling owners to respond quickly to changing markets.

– The past 50 years has seen major steps forward in terms of safety, technology and the operational capability. The years to come will see an even faster rate of change amid fuel transition and the growth in clean energy sources. Electrification of ships is becoming more common, and the role of digitisation will play an increasing part in transforming how ships operate. We’ve already designed ships with alternative fuels, battery-powered propulsion and even technology to allow unmanned remote and autonomous operation.

– In addition to our focus on technology and operational aspects, we are passionate about the look and feel of our vessels and challenge ourselves every day to develop vessels that are both attractive and functional.

– It really is an exciting time to be a ship designer, and a unique opportunity to help shape the future of ship design and operation.