Ulstein Verft orders Hydroniq coolers for cable-lay vessel engines

Ulstein Verft has contracted Hydroniq Coolers to supply a seawater cooling system for Nexans’ newbuild DP3 cable laying vessel.

Ellingsøy-based Hydroniq will deliver various Pleat seawater coolers to lower temperatures in the ship’s engines, propulsion and other auxiliary systems in order to avoid overheating.

The new vessel’s ST-297 CLV design, by Skipsteknisk, is an updated version of Nexans’ Aurora cable lay vessel built by Ulstein Verft. Hydroniq also provided the marine cooling system in 2020.

Pleat is a patented, module-based titanium cooler for seawater to freshwater. Maintenance involves dismantling, high-pressure cleaning, and assembly of certain elements.

“Compared to a traditional heat exchanger, one Pleat cooling element is equal to approximately 15 plates,” said Hydroniq’s Magnar Kvalheim.

“Whereas cleaning a traditional plate heat exchanger can take a significant amount of time to complete, cleaning of the Pleat can easily be done buy one person within one hour.” This can be advantageous, he added, for vessels such as cable-layers that operate offshore for long periods.

Hydroniq Coolers will manufacture the coolers at its headquarters at Ellingsøy.