The Ulstein Group is a group of companies that focus on various marine-related industries. Largest among these is Ulstein Verft AS, a major shipyard. However, the group also includes companies that focus on vessel design, electrical installations (both marine-related and land-based) and other areas of operation.

History

The company Ulstein Mekaniske Verksted was established in 1917 by Martin Ulstein, (13 December 1893 - July 1948). At age 23, he founded the company to modify local fishing boats, which were undergoing a global transition from sail-power to motorisation. Martin Ulstein borrowed money from Ulstein Sparebank, with his father acting as guarantor, acquired 800 square metres 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, the company was run for a long duration by his wife, Inga Ulstein. Her six children, Dagny, Inger, Magnulf, Kolbein, Idar, and Ragnhild - especially Kolbein and Idar - were responsible for the growth of the company to an employer of around 2,300 people in 2006.

Vickers acquired Ulstein Group AS in 1998, then Rolls-Royce acquired both companies in 2000. Thus, Ulstein AS is now a compleetly owned independent subsidiary of Rolls-Royce.

However, the Ulstein family reacquired a significant fraction of the company, including one of the two core shipyards in Ulsteinvik, in 2000. The current CEO is Gunvor Ulstein, granddaughter of the late founder Martin Ulstein.

The company's head office and primary operations are located in Ulsteinvik, Norway

Divisions

Ulstein Verft AS

Ulstein Verft is a shipyard situated in The Ulstein Group's primary base of operations, Ulsteinvik, along with Ulstein Design and Ulstein Elektro. Ulstein Verft is the largest employer in the group.

Ulstein Design AS

Ulstein Design designs advanced vessels for offshore operations. The designs are primarily vessels for the offshore market as for example Anchor handling tug supply vessel, Platform Supply Vessels, subsea vessels and offshore construction vessels. The Ulstein X-Bow is an example of one of the novel technologies invented.

Ulstein Elektro AS

Ulstein Elektro manufactures marine electrical, control and communication systems. Among these are ULSTEIN COM and ULSTEIN IAS. The IAS is an integrated automation system with redundant architecture system mainly for vessel and engine management and control. ULSTEIN COM is a marine telecommunications and data communications system.

Ulstein Belga Marine AS

The former Belga Marine of Rio de Janeiro, Brazil was acquired by Ulstein Group AS and renamed Ulstein Belga Marine It provides electrical & control systems for the large offshore and merchant market in Brazil.

Ulstein Es-Cad AS

By merging a track record within merchant and short sea shipping with the expertise and proprietary technologies ofthe Ulstein Group, Ulstein Es-Cad develops innovative solutions for merchant and short sea shipping.

Ulstein Vessels

Ulstein Group AS has a long history of a variety of ship construction. The X-bow is one of the most noteworthy advances in ship design innovation- literally altering the familiar appearance of ships to resemble in layman's terms a road vehicles such as transport trucks.

Ulstein A-Series

The Ulstein A-Series'are Anchor Handling Tug and Supply Vessels. (AHTS)Noteworthy vessels are the Olympic Zeus and sister ship Olympic Hera. They are 93.8 metres long and 23 metres wide and has a towing power of 250 tonnes. These are the largest anchor handling vessels of the A design by Ulstein Verft. The vessels innovate via a hybrid propulsion system where ships may switch between diesel-mechanical and diesel-electric propulsion or combine the two for maximal pull and optimum fuel efficiency. The ship has DP2 (dynamic positioning), an ROV garage and accommodations for 68 persons.This feature allows major economic and environmental cost-savings benefits.The new X series features the much touted Ulstein X-bow.

Ulstein P-Series

The Ulstein P-Series are Platform Supply Vessels (PSV)

Ulstein S-Series

The Ulstein S-Series are Specialized Vessels including, among others, Offshore Construction Vessels and Specialized Multifunctional Vessels.

Ulstein X-bow

The Ulstein X-bow is a new inverted bow designed to improve handling in rough sea and lower fuel consumption. The Bourbon Orca, design AX104 is an Ulstein A-Series Anchor Handling Tug Supply vessel, built for Bourbon Offshore Norway, and was the first ship built with the Ulstein X-bow.

External links

• The Ulstein Group
• History book
• The Bourbon Orca
• A Viking Ship Redesigned

References

1. Harald Grytten, Creative Enthusiasm for 90 Years: 1917-2007: Ulstein, Ulsteinkonsernet: 2007, ISBN 54 pages
2. Ships monthly, v. 40, Endlebury Pub. Co., 2005
3. Shipping World & Shipbuilder, v. 206: 2005 pp4-20
4. http://www.scandoil.com/moxie-bm2/news/olympic-ships-made-by-ulstein-design.shtml
5. Dagens Næringsliv,November 15, 2008,p.24
6. Naval architectRoyal Institution of Naval Architects 2003

• Shipping World & Shipbuilder, v. 206: 2005 pp4–20
• Lloyd's maritime directory, Lloyd's of London Press, 2004: ISBN 184311335X
• Lloyd's ship manager: LSM, Lloyd's of London Press: 2003
• Ships monthly, v. 40, Endlebury Pub. Co., 2005
• Naval architectRoyal Institution of Naval Architects 2003