Investing in a green future

Since its introduction five years ago, the Ulstein X-BOW® concept has proven its added value to customers when it comes to enhanced performances in operations, fuel economy, comfort and safety. However, innovation is a continuous process within Ulstein, finding new combinations of potential markets, products and services that allow customers to expand their positions.

As Tore Ulstein, deputy CEO at Ulstein,  highlights, the X-BOW® hull line design is one of the company’s most significant contributions to maritime innovations. As per Bob Rietveldt, head of the customized design area at Ulstein, new markets for the special design initially developed for offshore support vessels, are being explored. Recently the XDS 3600 deepwater drillship was introduced to the market, being the largest X-BOW® ever developed up to date. After successful model testing of the drillship design, the X-BOW® proved to be very valuable for large vessels that are mostly operating in stationary conditions. The results even exceeded expectations and the company expects that this technology can benefit FPSO designs as well.


For the offshore wind market Ulstein has developed two concepts for turbine installations, the Windlifter system and the F2F (Floating to fixed) concept. The windlifter with an ULSTEIN X-BOW® transports four turbines at the same time and uses a modular, mechanical system to skid the turbines from the vessel onto the foundation. The ultimate vision towards the future of offshore windturbine installation is the F2F concept,an alternative to fixed foundations. F2F targets a significant overall cost reduction related to offshore turbine installation, operation, maintenance, repair and decommissioning. Ulstein also offers designs for the offshore wind commissioning and maintenance market. Recently Ulstein signed a letter of intent with SeaEnergy Marine to develop new maintenance service vessels for the offshore wind industry, based on ULSTEIN´s SX128 design.

Life-cycle considerations are fundamental to Ulstein and the LNG PAX vessel concept is a good example of this, as Ulstein explains. The vessel is a combination of an LNG (Liquid Natural Gas) carrier and PAX (cargo and passenger transport vessel). As one vessel can perform several different duties otherwise performed by two vessels, the carbon footprint is reduced. The vessel also comes with intelligent lighting systems to reduce energy consumption. Additionally, solar energy can be utilised through the use of solar panels in the wheelhouse roof. Also, there are four high efficiency wingsails, along with in-wing solar panels and LNG tank area ventilation pipes.

Ulstein has taken another step and introduced LNG propulsion in a new area - the subsea construction segment, as Tore Ulstein explains. “The Ulstein PX119 design platform can be large enough to be work as a subsea construction vessel or as a platform supply vessel. The vessel is prepared for optional engine configurations, such as diesel mechanic, diesel electric, dual fuel, or pure LNG, or combinations of these. This optimal flexibility creates  a fuel-efficient vessel, with reduced emissions depending on the operational profile.”