Vestdavit A/S - Experts & Thought Leaders

Efficient installation and commissioning of onboard equipment is critical in the newbuild construction process. This has been demonstrated with successful sea trials for the first davits installed by Vestdavit on a series of US Navy fleet refuelling vessels being built by General Dynamics NASSCO. Proven performance PLRH-5000 davits excel in trials aboard USNS Robert F. Kennedy, ensuring smooth naval operations and newbuild deliveriesThe pair of high-specification PLRH-5000 rescue boat davits were subject to rigorous operational testing in the trials performed with USNS Robert F. Kennedy, or T-AO 208. That is the fourth and latest so-called T-AO oiler to be delivered in the series of John Lewis-class vessels under construction at the San Diego-based shipbuilder in the US. “Our davits performed as expected, which can be attributed to the proven robustness of this technology in naval operations as well as Vestdavit’s long-standing competence in davit installation that contributes to smooth-running newbuild deliveries,” says Vestdavit’s Managing Director Rolf Andreas Wigand. Additional davit order The pioneer Norwegian supplier of boat-handling systems has also secured a further purchase order from GD NASSCO for the PLRH-5000, taking its tally to seven ships covering T-AO 208 to T-AO 214 for which Vestdavit will provide a total of 14 such davits - two per vessel. The US shipbuilder, which specialises in design and construction of naval as well as commercial vessels, has so far been contracted to build 10 T-AO oilers under the extensive newbuild programme. The davits will be used for launch and recovery of seven-metre RHIBs to support refuelling operations by the oilers for US Navy carrier strike group ships operating at sea under the Military Sealift Command, with each of the 742-feet vessels having capacity to carry 157,000 barrels of oil and a sailing speed of 20 knots. Rapid and reliable deployment The PLRH-5000 davits are equipped with motion compensation and safety features to optimise the efficiencyThis demands that such boat-handling systems are capable of rapid and reliable deployment of daughter craft for mission-critical operations under challenging conditions, with a high level of redundancy to ensure they keep operating efficiently when time is of the essence and lives may be at stake, according to Magnus Oding, General Manager of US subsidiary Vestdavit Inc., who attended commissioning of the davits at the shipyard. He points out the PLRH-5000 davits are also equipped with sophisticated motion compensation and safety features to optimise the efficiency of launch-and-recovery operations. These include shock absorbers for removing peak loads, constant tension for safe and efficient recovery in rough sea conditions, and guiding arms that act as an anti-pendulation device to keep the RHIB steady. Proven supplier to naval market These advanced specifications are underpinned by Vestdavit’s proactive strategy of product development and innovation to meet client requirements through over 40 years of davit deliveries to the demanding naval segment that forms its core market, with a track record of supplying robust systems with proven performance in real-life operations for most Nato navies worldwide. As a major client, the US Navy has been the source of similar repeat orders for Vestdavit such as those for the dual TDB-7000 davit-type that have been delivered for three Expeditionary Sea Base (ESB) ships also contracted at GD NASSCO. Ease of installation Oding says a key factor in securing such awards is Vestdavit’s ability to deliver systems designed for ease of installation, with the PLRH-5000 supplied as a fully self-contained and skid-mounted davit that is quick to install. “All that is required is to weld it to the deck, fill oil and connect the power,” he explains. Furthermore, its davits are certified according to all relevant class standards based on verification of design, materials and safety, and thorough testing at the fabrication stage, which minimises any commissioning issues during vessel construction. Innovating naval capabilities Wigand concludes: “Our strong delivery model ensures we can supply tried and trusted systems that meet the highest performance standards for naval operations, with a compact footprint that enables them to be easily incorporated into newbuild designs.”

Vestdavit has achieved a new sales record for the third successive year as its order intake hit an all-time high of Nkr380m in 2024, fuelled by increased davit orders from its core naval market, as well as the offshore energy sector. New sales record "It has been another fantastic year," says Vestdavit’s Sales and Business Development Director - Tarjei Isaksen. Tarjei Isaksen adds, "The significant orders boost was achieved despite a transition in our Sales & Marketing department that saw us start the year with an almost entirely new sales team, which hit the ground running to deliver impressive growth through quickly developing good customer relations." Naval and offshore market The naval market accounted for about 80% of orders in terms of value, with the remainder coming mainly from offshore The company’s davit sales grew by around 17% versus 2024, while the volume of orders also rose to 108-plus units, an increase of more than 50% from 70 in 2023. The naval market accounted for about 80% of orders in terms of value, with the remainder coming mainly from offshore energy - both oil & gas and wind. High-value davit contracts Furthermore, the leading Norwegian supplier of boat-handling systems also racked up some of its biggest-ever orders in terms of value with contracts in the range of Nkr40-60m. These include frame agreements for multiple davits with the Canadian Coast Guard and French Navy, as well as significant orders with the US, German, and Italian navies, and the US National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration. "Increasing sales momentum in our main markets has led to exponential growth in recent years to underpin the expansion of our fabrication facility in Poland that enables faster turnaround on orders to boost productivity and meet growing demand," explains Tarjei Isaksen. Expansion in capacity The Bergen-based supplier has recently expanded the Vestdavit Production plant with a new assembly hall to increase manufacturing capacity by 60-70%, which will facilitate delivery of around 100 davits annually and allow construction of larger units. Tarjei Isaksen says Davit sales growth is mainly being driven by increasing newbuild investments by Nato navies around the world to strengthen their fleets amid escalating geopolitical tensions. He states, "This has led to rolling orders for long-term newbuilding programmes," with the US Navy a major customer. Tailored to military requirements Vestdavit has established a strong reputation as a specialist supplier of bespoke boat handling systems Based on a market study, the company is now looking to expand further into the Asia-Pacific naval market where it sees 'huge potential', as well as in Latin America, according to Isaksen. Vestdavit has established a strong reputation as a specialist supplier of bespoke boat-handling systems to most Nato navies based on its 50-year track record of delivering robust and reliable davits designed for efficient launch-and-recovery operations in variable sea states for mission-critical operations. Lightweight, compact, and resilient Its high-specification davits are installed on both naval and coastguard ships ranging from aircraft carriers to offshore patrol vessels to deploy various craft for military, law enforcement, and other tasks, with a reference list that includes the US, British, Italian, and Australian navies, to name a few. These are designed to meet the special requirements of military vessels for boat-handling systems that are lightweight, compact, and resilient, with a high level of redundancy so they can remain operational under challenging conditions. Offshore wind in sales Vestdavit has seen increasing deliveries to the offshore wind segment due to demand for heavy-duty davits Innovative technological features - such as active heave compensation, anti-pendulation mechanisms, and flexible hook distance - also enable enhanced boat-handling capabilities and increased adaptability. On the commercial side, Vestdavit has seen increasing deliveries to the offshore wind segment due to demand for heavy-duty davits to handle large workboats used for the deployment of turbine maintenance crews, mainly on construction service operation vessels (CSOVs). Green energy transition Isaksen expects this trend to continue given the pace of wind farm development worldwide to drive the transition to green energy, with annual installations forecast to increase to 66 GW by 2033 from 10.8 GW in 2023 despite recent investment challenges, such as inflation, high interest rates and supply chain constraints that have stalled some projects, according to the Global Wind Energy Council. Against this market backdrop, Isaksen is confident that Vestdavit can exceed the Nkr400m mark to achieve a new sales record in 2025, with further high-value Davit orders on the horizon.

Advanced boat-handling systems supplied by Vestdavit have been installed on the newbuild CSOV Olympic Notos delivered for Olympic by Norway’s Ulstein Verft, which is raising the bar in terms of sustainability and operational efficiency for such vessels employed in the offshore energy sector. MOB and lifeboat davit “We are honoured to have been selected by Ulstein for participation in this ground-breaking newbuild project based on our well-established track record of reliable davit deliveries for the offshore wind and oil & gas markets, with systems designed for optimal performance to maximise the operational window of support vessels working in this space,” says Vestdavit Managing Director - Rolf Andreas Wigand. The renowned Norwegian supplier provided a total package of five davits for the vessel, including two H-9001 davits - one dedicated lifeboat davit and the other a combination of MOB (man overboard) and lifeboat davit. Additionally, it supplied two L-3500 liferaft davits and a dedicated PL-3600 MOB davit. Tailored for operational needs Davits were manufactured and tested at Vestdavit’s state-of-the-art show facility in Redziokowo The davits were manufactured and tested at Vestdavit’s state-of-the-art production facility in Redziokowo, Poland, with components sourced from its network of trusted European suppliers. Each davit has been tailored to meet the specific operational needs of the vessel and delivered in full compliance with the latest standards and regulations, ensuring an efficient installation process at the Norwegian shipyard to facilitate a smooth-running delivery on schedule. TWIN X-STERN® solution The Olympic Notos, together with the previously delivered sistership Olympic Boreas, are the first CSOVs designed with Ulstein’s pioneering TWIN X-STERN® solution with four main propellers located fore and aft. This allows precise dynamic positioning with minimal use of thruster power to achieve a reduction in fuel consumption of close to 50% versus other operational vessels, resulting in a significant cut in emissions. The innovative CSOV concept, developed by Ulstein and Olympic to set a new standard for such vessels, incorporates a hybrid diesel-electric propulsion system - allied with variable speed, battery storage and smart energy management - and a unique dual-stern hull shape. The result is a significantly lower environmental footprint, enhanced operability, and reduced fuel and maintenance costs. Compact solution The PL-3600 is a versatile davit that can be adapted for various types of boats and equipment According to Ulstein, the main reason for the selection of Vestdavit was that its davit solution was the only one compact enough to fit on the Olympic Notos. The H-9001 supplied for the Olympic Notos is a cutting-edge davit system engineered with adaptability for lifeboats and rescue boats of different sizes, providing multi-functional capability to support diverse marine operations. The precision-designed L-3500 is a highly specialised and robust system for efficient launch of liferafts even in harsh marine environments, while the PL-3600 is a versatile davit that can be adapted for various types of boats and equipment, including rescue boats and workboats. Sophisticated davit features Vestdavit has been able to meet strict client requirements for safety and flexibility of such systems through its offering of high-specification davits capable of reliable launch-and-recovery of a wide range of craft in variable sea states, demonstrated through decades of efficient operations worldwide across the naval, coastguard and offshore sectors. Its systems have sophisticated features such as anti-pendulation and failsafe constant tension for enhanced safety and stability, as well as Programmable Logic Control for automated operations. This is based on many years of innovative product development in collaboration with clients that has enabled Vestdavit to provide a high level of customisation to deliver tailor-made davit solutions.