This is Rem Pioneer

In March 2024, it was announced that REM Offshore had contracted an Energy Subsea Construction Vessel (ESCV) from Myklebust Verft, featuring a massive 250-tonne electric crane and designed by Skipsteknisk.

According to the announcement, the vessel was due for delivery in 2026 and would be the first of its kind capable of carrying out heavy construction work in both offshore wind and subsea operations with net-zero emissions. Two years later, all parties have delivered on their commitments, and the vessel is now nearing handover from the yard to the shipowner.

The hull was built at Song Cam Shipyard in Vietnam before being loaded onto the heavy-lift vessel Seaway Osprey and transported to Norway for completion. It arrived at Myklebust Verft in November 2025.

Rem Pioneer is equipped with two Wärtsilä 6L32DF dual-fuel engines, each producing 3,393 kWe and capable of running on both MGO and methanol. In addition, there is one Caterpillar/Zeppelin Power Systems 3516E engine rated at 2,368 kWe.

These are, in their own right, highly fuel-efficient engines. The vessel can maintain a cruising speed of 12 knots with just one generator set running, resulting in significantly lower fuel consumption than comparable vessels in transit. Wärtsilä has also supplied the SCR system on board.

The vessel has a tank capacity for almost 1,000 m³ of methanol.

Detailed analyses of REM's own vessels and those of competitors indicate a reduction in fuel consumption of between 30 and 50 per cent when operating on MGO.

The vessel is also equipped with an emergency generator consisting of a Scania DI13 75M engine and a Stamford generator.

The Corvus battery packs, supplied by HAF Power Solutions, have a total capacity of up to 1,7 MWh. While other vessels typically have a single large battery pack, Rem Pioneer has three independent battery packs distributed across three switchboard sections, providing a high degree of redundancy.

The massive 250-tonne fully electric crane from IMECA is fitted with 3,000 metres of wire and can regenerate power back into the battery system during operation. When lowering a 250-tonne load, the crane has the potential to regenerate 2 MW back into the vessel in normal mode. Under peak load with active AHC, this can reach up to 3 MW. 

The principle is similar to that of an electric car: when the driver lifts off the accelerator, energy is regenerated and returned to the battery for later use.

The crane has a capacity of 250 tonnes in single-fall configuration, 300 tonnes in double-fall configuration and 30 tonnes on the auxiliary wire.

The same principle is applied to the LARS system. When the ROV is launched, energy is also regenerated and fed back into the batteries.

The IMECA crane is the first of its kind, and REM Offshore has been actively involved in its development.

Unlike many other vessels in the same class, Rem Pioneer does not have a conventional low voltage AC switchboard system. Instead, the vessel is based on a DC architecture. This makes it easier to utilise electrical power efficiently and, crucially, to recover and reuse regenerated energy. The batteries also operate on DC, with the DC grid running at 1,050 V.

One of the advantages of this solution is that the vessel can operate its engines at variable speed, which in turn reduces fuel consumption. Another benefit is that the system saves valuable space on board. REM Offshore has worked closely with HAF Power Solutions to develop this solution.

Kongsberg Maritime has supplied a comprehensive package including a K-Pos DP-22 DP2 system, the new K-Bridge/Beside  navigation, thruster control & K-Chief/IAS. The company has also supplied the autopilot, three Kongsberg RADius 2000 systems, two DPS I4, one spottrack, Dual HIPAP 502,  Two radars, a SeaPos 300 GPS system, ECDIS and AIS.

Brunvoll has supplied the vessel's complete thruster package, comprising two 3,000 kW Brunvoll CPP thrusters, one 1,500 kW CPP retractable thruster, one 1,500 kW CPP combi thruster and one 1,800 kW CPP tunnel thruster.

The accommodation outfitting has been supplied by Vestnes Ocean.

The vessel can accommodate 120 people in 30 single cabins and 45 twin cabins. When off duty, personnel have access to a fully equipped gym. Alternatively, they can relax in one of the two day rooms or enjoy the view from the Sky Lounge. The vessel also features a number of offices and meeting rooms, as well as a high-standard hospital.

REM Offshore has worked closely with its suppliers and the designers at Skipsteknisk to develop what it considers the best possible solutions for the crew and personnel on board.

The vessel is equipped with both anti-roll and anti-heel systems.

The working deck measures an impressive 1,400 m², which is particularly notable for a vessel measuring 116.5 metres in length and 23 metres in beam. Other vessels with a working deck of a similar size are often up to 20 metres longer than Rem Pioneer.

This makes the vessel lighter than others in the same category, further contributing to reduced energy consumption. She can carry 3,000 tonnes of deck cargo under SPS 90 or 2,400 tonnes under SPS 120.

The deck equipment has been supplied by Adria. The vessel is fitted with two ST tugger winches and a 2-tonne SWL auxiliary winch.

The liferafts have been supplied by Viking Norsafe and comprise six Viking 20DKF units, each with capacity for 20 people, as well as two Viking Norsafe lifeboats with capacity for 60 people each. The MOB boat is a Mare GTC 700.

All pumps have been supplied by Ing. Per Gjerdrum. The hot-water boiler has been supplied by Ulmatec Pyro, model FH-0900, with a capacity of 1,810 litres per hour.

Evotec has supplied two complete launch and recovery systems (FlexiLARS™) for Rem Pioneer. At the heart of both systems is Evotec CORE™ – Evotec's technology platform for electric winch drive and control. The company has also supplied the starboard deck crane and ROV crane.

Rem Pioneer has two moonpools. The larger measures 7.2 × 7.2 metres, while the second measures 5.6 × 4.9 metres. Moonpool 2 is located inside the ROV hangar.

The helideck has a capacity of 12.8 tonnes.

Rem Pioneer is classed by DNV with the following notations:

+1A, EO, SF, DYNPOS(AUTR-CBT), SPS, Clean(Design), compliant with IMO IP Code/SOLAS ch. XV, NAUT(AW), Strengthened(DK), HELDK(S,H), Crane, Ice-C, COMF V(3)-C(3), BIS, Recyclable, Battery(Power), BWM(T), LFL fuelled, LFL(2), ER(SCR, Tier III), Shore power, HL(1.2), Platform supply(P,S,T).