How the design of ships has changed in the past decade is quite extraordinary. The docks is witnessing a variety of futuristic vessels in port from the state of the art jack up platform Seajacks Leviathan, Wavewalker, a revolutionary “walking” jack up barge to the Polar Onyx, a sophisticated offshore construction vessel with an X form bow.

An intense loading programme has been underway on the Queen’s wharf as Polar Onyx prepares for her next contract laying cables from the Wave Hub off Hayle for James Fisher Marine Services.

Jointing and trans-spooling of the cables is currently being undertaken at the docks.

The ship is fitted with a 275t vertical lay system which is capable of installing flexible pipe and umbilicals of 50 – 630mm diameter in up to 3,000m water depth.

Polar Onyx left at the weekend for the Wave Hub site and will be back in port on Friday to load more equipment. Once the latest contract is completed the vessel is expected to return to Falmouth for a month to demobilise and load equipment for the next contract.

Wave Hub is the world's largest and most technologically advanced site for the testing and development of offshore renewable energy technology.

The X bow or inverted bow concept was designed by Norwegian shipbuilders Ulstein in 2005. Today over 100 vessels have been built with the X bow.

While a traditional bow vessel rises on the waves and then drops violently onto the surface of the water, an X-BOW vessel, is less subject to the vertical motions induced by the waves, continues on course more smoothly, while maintaining its speed. And because it uses less fuel to get through the waves, it also helps to save energy.