Catamaran shaped and open at one end, the gap between the vessels’ two pontoons provides a sheltered area for foundations to be upended by a hinged tilted frame and lowered to the seabed.
The barge is capable of a ten knot low speed, can operate in water depth of between 15 and 60 metres and can be controlled remotely.
Project manager Paal Stromstad said: "The building cost of the catamaran is estimated at around $65 million, approximately one third of the cost of the last generation of jack-up vessels.
"We are in the market for investors to build the first catamaran. The Norwegian Research Council is also supporting the development of the vessel".
Model tests are currently taking place and a building contract with a shipyard is planned at the end of the year.
