Norway’s Kleven shipyard on a rollNorway’s Kleven shipyard on a roll

The family-owned builder, located across the fjord from Rolls-Royce Marine in Ulsteinvik right at the heart of Norway’s west coast marine and offshore cluster, has traditionally built sophisticated offshore vessels for local owners.

Now, though, the result of a strategy to diversify its product portfolio is paying off. Ships under construction include six anchor handlers for Maersk Offshore with close to $15m of Rolls-Royce equipment installed on board each vessel, four sophisticated stern trawlers of Rolls-Royce design for owners in Germany, France and Spain, a deep-sea mining vessel for De Beers currently on sea trials, a cable layer for ABB, two live fish carriers of Rolls-Royce design for local owners, and two mega-yachts for New Zealand business tycoon Graeme Hart.

Meanwhile yard executives are hoping that a tripartite letter of intent signed by the yard, Rolls-Royce Marine and Hurtigruten, operator of a fleet of cargo and passenger vessels on the Norwegian coast, will develop into an order for two, option two ships. A price has not yet been finalised but if the options are declared, the ice-class vessels – also of Rolls-Royce design – could add up to $800m to the value of Kleven’s orderbook. With 360 cabins and passenger capacity of 530, the 140m vessels will also be capable of Arctic cruising.

Commenting on the shipyard’s successful diversification and growing appeal to foreign owners, a representative pointed to the substantial investment which has been committed to automation and robotised welding as well as the attractive financing terms available through the support of GIEK, Norway’s export credit institution.