Olympic CSOV to undergo W2W retrofit

Norwegian shipbuilder Ulstein Verft has entered into an agreement with offshore vessel operator Olympic to retrofit the commissioning service operation vessel (CSOV) Olympic Notos to enable it to support unmanned installations on the Norwegian Continental Shelf.

The CSOV will now be repurposed as a walk-to-work (W2W) vessel for unmanned production platforms on the Norwegian Continental Shelf, where Olympic has secured a five-year charter contract with AkerBP.

Olympic Notos will be modified to meet the specifications and requirements for servicing unmanned installations, though it is already specially designed to ensure year-round operations in challenging conditions in the North Sea.

The gangway will remain permanently connected to the platform as long as personnel are on board the installations, and the W2W solution will also serve as the primary evacuation route.

"The extensive retrofit is already underway, with design work led by Ulstein Design and Solutions," said Marita Myrvågnes, Area Sales Manager Aftermarket at Ulstein Verft.

"Throughout the autumn, Ulstein Verft will prefabricate components for use in the project. The conversion is scheduled to take place at the beginning of 2026, and the vessel is expected to be ready for offshore operations by spring 2026."