Guvnor Ulstein Re-Appointed CEO of Ulstein Group
Ulstein Group CEO, Cathrine Kristiseter Marti, has decided to take on a new opportunity outside the Group, and former CEO, Gunvor Ulstein, has been appointed CEO from November 29, 2023.Ulstein had previously been CEO of Ulstein Group for nearly 22 years and represents the third generation of the family-owned group. When stepping down in 2020, she did so to continue her engagement through Ulstein Group board positions and as Chair of the Board of Ulsmo (majority owner of Ulstein Group)."We wish to thank Cathrine for her commitment to Ulstein Group for nine yearsâŚ
Ulstein Names Marti as CEO
Norwegian shipbuilder and vessel design group Ulstein announced Tuesday that its CFO Cathrine Kristiseter Marti has been promoted to replace long-serving CEO Gunvor Ulstein, who has decided to step down.Marti will take over as CEO on November 2 after six years as Ulstein Group's CFO.The transition comes amid changes to management and strategy at the group, which includes several companies focused on various marine-related industries but mainly vessel construction and design.GunvorâŚ
Ulstein Debuts Zero-Emission Offshore Ship Design
Ulstein Group unveiled a hydrogen-powered ship design that it claims is market-ready, offering zero-emission marine operations.Recently, DNV GL identified the five most promising alternative fuels for shipping, with hydrogen as the ultimate zero-emission solution. The first complete hydrogen fueled prospect has been put together by Ulstein Design & Solutions BV and Nedstack fuel cell technology BV. The ULSTEIN SX190 Zero Emission DP2 construction support vessel is Ulsteinâs first hydrogen powered offshore vessel, featuring a Nedstack fuel cell power system. The DP2 vessel can cater for a large variety of offshore support operations.âThe maritime industry needs to align and be ambitious in bringing green solutions forward for a sustainable future.
Arctic (& Wind) Operations: Hands Across the Water
As the North American offshore wind model evolves, it is clear that fit-for-purpose, Jones Act compliant and Arctic ready tonnage will need to be part of the equation. If so, weâve got that box checked, with a little help from Europe.As of September 2018, the Walney Extension off the United Kingdom is the largest offshore wind farm in the world at 659 megawatts. There are at least 70 major wind farms, each with hundreds of wind turbines, each generating as much as 10 megawatts in offshore England, the North Sea, Russia and China.
Ulstein Bags Order for 12 Vessels
Norwegian ship designer Ulstein Design & Solutions announced that it has received totally six firm ship contracts, and options for further six vessels."With 12 contracts including options on expedition cruise vessels in three years, we have now consolidated a strong position as expedition cruise designers,â said Tore Ulstein, COO Design & Solutions in Ulstein.The X-BOW hull line design is a feature that makes Ulstein vessels stand out from the crowd, said a press release from the shipyard.The X-BOW splits the waves and removes the slamming and associated vibrations, increasing comfort for passengers and crew. And because it uses less fuel to get through the wavesâŚ
Ustein Unveils Heavy Lift Jack-up
With the newly developed J102 heavy lift jack-up design, Ulstein says it presents its answer to the offshore wind industryâs need for fit-for-purpose, cost efficient yet future proof wind turbine installation vessels. The new design is part of Ulsteinâs X-JACK series of heavy lift jack-up designs. âThis underlines Ulsteinâs firm commitment to serve the offshore renewables industry,â says Tore Ulstein, COO Design & Solutions.âFloating vessels we see as the preferred solution for foundation installationâŚ
SunStone Orders Third Expedition Cruise Vessel at CMHI Yard
Miami-based SunStone Ships has declared option number two at CMHI shipyard after signing a long-term charter contract with Victory Cruise Line for the vessel, with a total of three newbuilds now under construction at the Chinese yard.A press release from the manager of passenger ships across the globe said that it originally placed one firm contract and nine options on Ulstein deliveries of expedition cruise vessel designs and equipment packages back in 2017.All ten vessels are part of SunStone Shipsâ series of vessels in the âINFINITY-classâ. With the declaration of the next option, the CMHI (China Merchants Heavy Industry) yard in China will be constructing three expedition cruise vessels based on the Ulstein design.
Aeolus Energy Pact with Ulstein for Jones Act SOV
Florida based Aeolus Energy awarded Ulstein the design contract to develop the first ever Jones Act compliant offshore wind Service Operations Vessel (SOV), said a press release from Norway-based Ulstein Group ASA.The contract marks Ulsteinâs entry into the U.S. offshore wind market and serves as Aeolusâ initial investment toward a fleet of vessels including cable ships, crew transfer vessels and hotel ships, all to be constructed by U.S. shipyards.The vessel will be a customized version of Ulsteinâs SX195 design developed to meet the specific requirements of Aeolus Energy and U.S. Coast Guard. The project starts with customizing the SX195 design, to optimize the new walk-to-work vessel for operations in U.S.
SunStone Orders Second Expedition Cruise Ship
U.S. based SunStone Ships has exercised an option to order a second expedition cruise vessel to be built in China and scheduled for delivery in August 2020.The new order comes under a design and equipment contract SunStone signed with Ulstein Design & Solutions AS in 2017 that included options for up to nine X-BOW expedition cruise vessels. Ulstein, whose contract is with the China Merchants Group (CMG), is responsible for the delivery of the design and equipment package.Construction of the first vesselâŚ
Ulstein Unveils New Trawler Series
Norwegian ship designer and shipbuilder Ulstein has launched a new series of fish trawlers with state-of-the-art ship solutions for sustainable fishing methods and processing. The trawlers incorporate a number of innovative features, including Ulsteinâs signature X-Bow hull design and environmentally friendly hybrid propulsion systems.Ulstein Group has a long tradition of cooperating with different actors when developing new and innovative ship designs and solutions. On this project, Ulstein has worked closely together with Nordic wildfish.
Ulstein: A Century of Innovation
Ulstein, now a century old, has spent the last 100 years looking to the future. Since its formation on August 9, 1917 in Ulsteinvik, Norway, the family-owned shipbuilder, designer and systems supplier said it has focused on tomorrowâs opportunities today. Over the years, Ulstein has evolved through innovation and pioneered trailblazing solutions, driven by its desire to meet shifting customer demands, commercial openings and market challenges head-on. There isnât much that remains the same in a century of operationâŚ
New Heavy Lift Jack-up Vessel Design
SeaOwls and Ulstein launched a new heavy lift jack-up vessel design, the SOUL, at the Offshore Wind Journal Conference on February 7. According to the designers, the cruciform structural lay-out makes the patent-pending solution more than 10 percent lighter than conventional jack-up vessel designs. In combination with a high capacity crane, SOUL enables operators to take the next step in developing offshore wind farms. The concept aims to install the next generation wind turbines (10-12 MW) in the same time frame as currently used for installing 6-8 MW unitsâŚ
Ulstein Delivers for BS Offshore
The first of two service operation vessels (SOV) ordered in 2015 by Bernhard Schulte Offshore (BS Offshore) and its client Siemens from Ulstein Verft in is now completed, and was delivered on June 23, 2016. The vessel is built to the ULSTEIN SX175 design, which according to Ulstein, emphasizes optimization of the vesselâs movements in order to ensure the safe transfer of technicians and equipment for the maintenance and servicing of wind turbines. âWe considered several yards worldwideâŚ
Ulstein Group Records Operating Loss of $11.5M
In 2015, Ulstein Group recorded revenues of $279.4 million and an operating loss of $11.5 million. The business areas Design & Solutions and Power & Control both recorded profits. The downturn in the offshore sector and a tricky market has to be met with adaptation and innovation, according to CEO Gunvor Ulstein. âThese are tough times. The groupâs results for 2015 were weak as a result of lower utilization of capacity and the generally challenging market situation in our business areas. We believe 2016 will also be a challenging year. Ulstein Group has had a strong focus on supplying design, construction and systems solutions to the offshore market in recent years.
Rescue Ship Idar Ulstein Named in Norway
The search and rescue boat Idar Ulstein was named in Ulsteinvik today, becoming the latest newbuild to join the fleet of the Norwegian Society for Sea Rescue. RS Idar Ulstein is also the first vessel in the new Ulstein class, named after ULSTEINâs long-time CEO. The new vessel Idar Ulstein was named by lady sponsor Gunvor Ulstein in a ceremony in Ulsteinvik. The 22-meter rescue vessel employs powerful twin engines and a water jet to achieve large bollard pull and reach top speeds near 40 knots. âShort response time is essential to saving lives at sea.
Ulstein Launches Discovery Series
Originating from an offshore design platform, Ulstein Group presents its Discovery Series concept, which includes three different vessels in the exploration, cruising and coastal patrolling categories. â70 percent of Earthâs surface is covered by oceans. 80 percent of the ocean is deeper than 3,000 meters. Norway alone administers an ocean area whose surface is six times greater than the mainland,â said Tore Ulstein, deputy CEO of Ulstein Group. The vast area of the unexplored has inspired ULSTEIN to come up with new concepts and developments, the company said.
âTWIN X-STERNâ â A Stern at Each End
Is a bow really a necessity for large ships? When the vesselâs main function is walk-to-work (W2W) services in the offshore renewable sector, a heightened sterncan operateeither way,thus facilitating on-siteDP positioning.This is the idea behind the TWIN X-STERN concept vessel from ULSTEIN, which also includes new thoughts on propulsion, bridge, gangways and cranes. âThe exploitation of renewable energies will become increasingly important in the post-oil era. In the future, renewable energy farms within areas such as solar, wind, wave and current will be established even further from shore in order to maximise the energy created. To serve more distant energy farmsâŚ
X-STERN Wins âNext Generation Ship Awardâ
The X-STERN solution from Ulstein was awarded the Next Generation Ship Award at the Nor-Shipping opening conference on June 2. Innovative ship design is the main criteria in the awarding of this prize. âInnovation is at the core of what we do, and we are truly delighted to receive this recognition,â comments Gunvor Ulstein, CEO of Ulstein Group. âThe offshore industry is experiencing a downturn and eventually oil and gas supplies will come to an end. Tore Ulstein, Deputy CEO and Head of Market and Innovation, comments further, âThinking outside the box and challenging accepted ideas is at the heart of innovation. When we introduced the X-BOW ten years ago, many people commented on the unusual look of the bow and questioned its improved seakeeping characteristics.
Ulsteinâs X-BOW Turns 10
When times are tough, it is still possible to nurture and grow good ideas, says Ulstein, an provider of ship design, shipbuilding and system solutions for ships. Thatâs the story behind the ULSTEIN X-BOW hull line design, which upon its introduction 10 years ago turned the image of the shipâs bow upside down. Now in its 10th year, the 100th X-BOW shipbuilding contract was signed, and the X-BOWâs derivative, the X-STERN â a similar solution for the shipâs stern â has been contracted on its first two vessels.
ULSTEIN Reports âGood Resultsâ for 2014
Ulstein Group said it achieved a âgood resultâ for 2014, with an operating turnover of NOK 2.7 billion compared to 2013âs NOK 2.3 billion. Meanwhile, the groupâs operating profit of NOK 184.1 million comes in under the NOK 317.8 million operating profit for 2013, while the 2014 operating result before tax of NOK 167.7 million is again lower than NOK 360.8 million for 2013. âWe are pleased with last yearâs figures. Todayâs market is tough, and we are preparing for even harder times to come. There will be major demand for restructuring and change,â said CEO Gunvor Ulstein.
ULSTEIN Sells 100th X-BOW Design
With the latest contract for two offshore wind service vessels for Bernhard Schulte/WINDEA Offshore, ULSTEIN has achieved 100 sales of the X-BOW hull line design. The milestone was achieved 10 years after the launch of the X-BOW design in 2005. Following the sales to Bourbon Offshore Norway of the second and third ship designs featuring X-BOW, Group CEO Gunvor Ulstein was asked by the media whether the hull design was now a success. "Come back when we've sold 100," Gunvor said in reply. "We can now see that X-BOW has been a huge success in the more recent history of ULSTEIN.
Offshore: Ulstein and the First U.S. Built X-Bow
Veteran Norwegian designer and builder Ulstein will, for the first time, build one of its signature X-Bow hull designs in the U.S., Maritime Reporter has learned. Edison Chouest Offshoreâs LaShip shipyard in Louisiana is keen to build, and has found a Norwegian partner to share the risk. Judging by ever-evolving Ulstein business models and Jones Act strictures, Ulsteinâs U.S. foray could lead to series production of the SX 165 offshore construction vessel. The U.S.-built combined light well-intervention and inspection, maintenance and repair vessel will be the second of the type.
Ulstein Adds âX-STERNâ to its Design Portfolio
Ulstein Group introduced the X-STERN, a design feature increasing vessel operability through positive effects on station keeping, wave response, comfort and safety in harsh conditions. An X-STERN vessel can stay on position in harsh weather with the stern towards waves, wind and current. For vessels where the best possible motion characteristics are vital, positioning the X-STERN towards the weather instead of the bow will be the captainâs natural choice. The X-STERN leads to reduced pitch and wave drift forces, as well as eliminating slamming.