Ulstein Group

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Ulstein Group ASA
TypePrivate
IndustryShipbuilding, ship design, power and control, maritime systems
Founded1917 (as Ulstein Mekaniske Verksted)
HeadquartersUlstein, Norway
Key people
Tore Ulstein (Chair of the Board), Ingerid Ulstein (Deputy chair of the Board), Gro Kielland (Member of the Board), Erik Bartnes (Member of the Board), Olav Holst-Dyrnes (Member of the Board), Rolv Bakke (Observer to the Board), Per Olav Hansen (Observer to the Board), Cathrine Kristiseter Marti (CEO Ulstein Group)
ProductsShip newbuilds, conversions and repairs, ship designs, power & control for the maritime market.
Number of employees
approx. 550 (2019)
Websiteulstein.com

Ulstein Group is a group of companies that focus on various marine-related industries, but is mainly known for its ship building and ship design activities. The largest unit is Ulstein Verft AS.[1] The company's head office and primary operations are located in the town of Ulsteinvik in the municipality of Ulstein in Møre og Romsdal county, Norway, an important area for the Norwegian maritime cluster, and with subsidiaries in several other countries. The group also includes companies working with power & control systems and solutions, engineering, site follow-up and aftermarket services. The company has also been engaged in shipping.

History[]

The original company, Ulstein Mekaniske Verksted, was established in 1917 by Martin Ulstein and his brother-in-law Andreas Flø. At age 23, Martin and Andreas founded the company to modify local fishing boats, which were undergoing a global transition from sail-power to motorization. Martin Ulstein borrowed money from Ulstein Sparebank, with his father acting as guarantor, acquired 800 square metres (8,600 sq ft) of land from his uncle and set up shop with his brother-in-law and business partner Andreas Flø.

After Martin Ulstein's sudden death, his widow Inga took position as Head of the Board, a position she held for many years. Their six children, Dagny, Inger, Magnulf, Kolbein, Idar, and Ragnhild (especially Kolbein and Idar) were responsible for the growth of the company to around 2,800 people in 1992.[2]

Vickers acquired Ulstein Group AS except the shipbuilding division in 1999, then Rolls-Royce acquired Vickers a few months later.[2]

CEO of Ulstein Group is Cathrine Kristiseter Marti. Still family-owned, a representative of the third generation, Tore Ulstein, is Chairman of the Board.

Divisions[]

Ulstein Verft AS[]

Ulstein Verft AS is a shipyard situated in Ulstein Group's primary base of operations, Ulsteinvik. Ulstein Verft was established in 1917, and is the largest employer in the group. The yard specialises in constructing advanced vessels, the latest being cable lay vessels, offshore wind service vessels, expedition cruise vessels, yachts and passenger (RoPax) vessels. [3] Focusing on newbuilds and larger conversions, the yard also takes on service and aftermarket assignments such as docking, mooring, classifications, upgrades, maintenance and repair, crane lifts and barge transportation. Many, but not all, vessels built are based on Ulstein's own design, the 'Ulstein design' for which two patented innovations are often implemented, the inverted bow, X-BOW®,[4] and the X-STERN®[5] hull design shapes. Two recent deliveries were the Service Operation Vessel Windea Jules Verne (2020) and the expedition cruise vessel 'National Geographic Endurance' (2020).

Ulstein Elektro Installasjon AS[]

Ulstein Elektro Installasjon AS is part of the shipbuilding division in ULSTEIN. The company is responsible for electrical installations on board vessels at Ulstein Verft.

Ulstein Design & Solutions AS[]

Ulstein Design & Solutions AS is located in Ulsteinvik, Norway. The company develops ship designs and offer complete equipment packages for ship construction worldwide. The designs include vessels for the offshore renewables market (offshore wind), passenger vessels, cruise vessels and yachts, fisheries, and the offshore oil and gas market (Offshore Construction (OCV), IMR-vessels, cable lay, platform supply vessels (PSVs) and Anchor handling tug supply vessels. Services also include CFD analyses, project management, site supervision, installation and commissioning as well as redesign for conversions and upgrades. 10 years after the company introducted the patented X-BOW® (Inverted bow) the number of such designs sold passed the 100-mark. [6] An add-on for the ship's stern, the X-STERN,[7] was launched in 2014, and received the Next Generation Ship Award 2015.[8]

Ulstein Design & Solutions BV[]

Ulstein Design & Solutions BV designs large offshore construction vessels. The company develops projects for operators, contractors and ship owners in the offshore drilling, renewables, construction and production market, as well as the maritime transport market. Future market trends and end user needs are the key drivers for developing and providing their new floating concepts to the offshore oil and gas industries and the offshore wind industry. One of the latest projects is its design for a semi-submersible foundation installation vessel, OHT's Alfa Lift.[9]

Ulstein Power & Control AS[]

Ulstein Power & Control offers worldwide services and retrofit of power packages and marine automation systems.

Ulstein Poland LTD. SP. Z.O.O.[]

Ulstein Poland is a part of an engineering pool in Ulstein Group, and provides engineering services, as well as hull, outfitting and machinery documentation and on-site yard support.

Ulstein Marine Systems (Shanghai) Co. Ltd.[]

Ulstein Marine Systems is a marketing and sales office based in China. The company offers engineering capacities and site support to Ulstein`s ship design activities in China.

Ulstein Marine Equipment (Ningbo) Co. Ltd.[]

Ulstein Marine Equipment manufactures electrical components and systems for offshore vessels developed by ULSTEIN.

Ulstein Electrical Technology (Ningbo) Co. Ltd.[]

Ulstein Electrical Technology is engaged in technical consulting, installation, commissioning and after-sales service.

Ulstein Belga Marine LTDA[]

Ulstein Belga Marine located in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil provides electrical and control systems and digitalises the day-to-day services for maritime and Oil & Gas companies in Brazil. Ulstein holds 50 per cent ownership in this company.

Blue Ctrl AS[]

Blue Ctrl develops and delivers future-oriented, reliable marine automation and control systems. Its automation products are based on the future-oriented automation platform X-CONNECT®, which makes it easy and efficient for partners to configure and automatically update and implement automation systems on board vessels. Ulstein holds 50 per cent ownership in this company.

Ulstein International AS[]

Ulstein International is located in Ulsteinvik, Norway, while having world-wide presence through managing the global sales activities in Ulstein Group and supporting and facilitating international growth. Engaged in consulting, project establishments and business development.

ULSTEIN X-BOW[]

Well intervention vessel Sarah (now: Skandi Constructor), an X-bow vessel.
Bourbon Orca anchor tug shown in 2012, was first ship built with an Ulstein X-bow, in 2006.
Main article: Inverted bow

The Ulstein X-bow, an inverted bow,[10] introduces the gentle displacer, ship's bow a tapered fore ship shape with a different volume distribution as well as sectional angles, resulting in a wave piercing effect at small wave heights, and also reduces pitching and bow impact loads in bigger seas. The anchorhandling tug supply vessel, , built for Bourbon Offshore Norway, was the first ship built with the ULSTEIN X-BOW in 2006.[11] In 2007, the design model was included in the London Science Museum's display of innovative technology. Recently (2019), the X-BOW was introduced to the cruise industry.[12]

References[]

  1. ^ "Complete list of vessels from Ulstein Verft".
  2. ^ Jump up to: a b Grytten, Harald (2007). Creative Enthusiasm for 90 Years: 1917-2007: Ulstein. Ulsteinkonsernet.
  3. ^ "VIDEO: Ulstein Sells 100th X-BOW". 14 January 2015.
  4. ^ "X-BOW hull design vs conventional hull design". Marine Insight. Retrieved 2017-01-17.
  5. ^ "X-STERN Archives". Marine Insight. Retrieved 2017-01-17.
  6. ^ "X-BOW cracks the 100 vessels mark". offshorewindindustry.com. 2015-01-16. Retrieved 2021-03-09.
  7. ^ "ULSTEIN X-STERN™ - Created by the North Sea". 26 August 2014.
  8. ^ "Ulstein's X-STERN wins Next Generation Ship Award". 2 June 2015.
  9. ^ "CMHI Builds Alfa Lift". oedigital.com. 2020-01-21. Retrieved 2021-03-09.
  10. ^ Dagens Næringsliv. November 15, 2008. p. 24.
  11. ^ Naval architect. Royal Institution of Naval Architects. 2003
  12. ^ "First X-Bow Cruise Ship Prepares for Maiden Voyage". The Maritime Executive. 2019-10-31. Retrieved 2021-03-09.

Further reading[]

  • Lloyd's maritime directory, Lloyd's of London Press, 2004: ISBN 1-84311-335-X
  • Lloyd's ship manager: LSM, Lloyd's of London Press: 2003
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