Steel cutting marks the start of construction on CS Resilience, the first ULSTEIN SX252 cable-laying vessel, with hull construction at CRIST in Poland before completion, outfitting and commissioning at Ulstein Verft in Norway.
Construction has officially begun on the first of two advanced fibre-optic cable-laying vessels being built for OMS Group, with a steel-cutting ceremony held on 7 July 2026. The milestone marks the start of production for CS Resilience, the first vessel in the series, with the hulls being constructed by CRIST Shipyard in Poland before final completion, outfitting and commissioning at Ulstein Verft in Norway.
The steel-cutting for Ulstein Verft’s yard number 328 signals the project’s transition from design, engineering and planning into full-scale construction.
The vessels are based on the proven ULSTEIN SX252 design and have been specifically developed for advanced subsea fibre-optic cable installation operations. Each vessel will measure 130 metres in length with a 22-metre beam and will be capable of carrying up to 6,500 tonnes of cable.
The project was announced in January 2026, when Malaysia-based OMS Group signed contracts with Ulstein for the design and construction of two next-generation cable-laying vessels. The vessels are designed to support the growing global demand for digital infrastructure by installing and maintaining subsea fibre-optic cable networks and are scheduled for delivery from Ulstein Verft in 2028.
“We are pleased to see construction start on the first hull in this project. The steel-cutting ceremony marks an important milestone, and we appreciate the continued good cooperation with CRIST,” says Lars Lühr Olsen, Managing Director at Ulstein Verft.
With system delivery from Ulstein Power & Control, the vessels will be equipped with integrated power, automation and energy management systems developed for advanced cable-laying operations. The combination of ULSTEIN® POWER Variable Speed Generator technology and battery systems contributes to energy-efficient and reliable operations while reducing fuel consumption and emissions.
About the fibre-optic cable-laying vessel, CS Resilience
- Customer: OMS Group, Malaysia
- Yard number: 328
- Design: ULSTEIN SX252
- Length: 130 m
- Beam: 22 m
- Cable capacity: Up to 6,500 tonnes
- Hull builder: CRIST Shipyard, Poland
- Completion yard: Ulstein Verft, Norway
- Scheduled delivery: 2028
