From electrician to supervisor
In 1975, 17-year-old Adolf Espeseth started as an electrician at Smedvik Mekaniske Verksted (acquired by Ulstein in 1981). Around 25 years later, he became an electrical supervisor. Now, after 50 years at Ulstein, the 68-year-old does not quite see himself slowing down just yet.
The supervisor's role involves extensive administration and people management, but Adolf thrives best when he is outside in the production:
“I’m wired in a way that means I need to be out there and see for myself, to follow up on the work process and stay in control. Being available to my colleagues is important.”
The secret behind 50 years at Ulstein
Why has Adolf stayed for so long? The answer comes quickly:
“I really enjoy working at Ulstein. The environment, the people around me and the management: I’ve never felt the need to change jobs. We are a close-knit team that welcomes newcomers like family. There is no difference between an electrician and a supervisor; first and foremost, we are great colleagues."
He also emphasises that the management has always shown genuine interest in both the work being done and employees' well-being.
Two factors, in particular, stand out:
“The great work environment, and the sensation of achievement when we succeed. Delivering a product on time – that’s incredibly rewarding.”
New voices, new ambitions
Alongside veterans like Adolf, Ulstein is home to newly employed people, both professionals and apprentices. Two of them are Nicholine and Jonas. They enjoy variation in their work, whether independently or in collaboration with others, and, not least, building ships.
Nicholine: Valuing the balance between theory and practice
When starting work at Ulstein, Nicholine Nesset Lystad was impressed by the scale of the vessels and by how pipework and cable systems are planned on board.
She is an engineer and currently works as a trainee within Machinery & HVAC. She also holds a certificate in industrial surface treatment and first worked six months in the production area before transferring to an office-based role.
“I like the link between practical work and the theory behind it. It feels much more natural to design pipe systems in the 3D programme when you’ve actually built them yourself before.”
She also highlights the importance of getting to know colleagues in the production area, making collaboration and communication much easier later on.
“That way, I’m not just ‘the engineer on the third floor’. I have a name and a face.”
She points to people as a key factor:
“I’ve been very well received and get guidance and support whenever I need it. I enjoy learning new things, and at Ulstein, there is always something new to learn.”
Jonas: A dedicated apprentice with his eyes on the future
Jonas Langlo, a first-year apprentice in industrial pipefitting, was impressed by the strong sense of unity among employees. He looks forward to every working day:
“Everyone is incredibly positive. I was pleasantly surprised by how inclusive and friendly it is here. There’s never a bad atmosphere.”
As an industrial pipefitter, Jonas is training in a discipline with high demand. He also plans to earn a second trade certificate as an industrial mechanic to increase variety and broaden his skill set.
What does he like most about his job?
“I find it interesting and enjoyable working with pipes – understanding how they run through the vessels, how everything works, and knowing that I’m contributing to a larger product by doing tasks I genuinely enjoy. I don’t like doing the same thing every day. Here, I get a varied working day.”
Jonas appreciates Ulstein’s proactive mindset – always looking ahead to the next project and focusing on remaining competitive:
“As soon as we finish what we’re working on, we already know what’s coming next. That makes the work both enjoyable and exciting.”
