Ulstein Design & Solutions AS is one of several in Ulstein Group with broad ship expertise. Headquartered in Norway, the group has offices in the Netherlands, Poland, and China and cooperates with shipyards worldwide.
Recent service and aftermarket assignments
Roy is heading the aftermarket services at Ulstein Design & Solutions AS, which assists ship owners in prolonging the lifetime of their assets.
"The clients hold the operational knowledge and have an overview of the vessel's operational data. Ulstein offers a multi-disciplinary competence and experience, and the combined result is a highly attractive vessel for a new chart or segment", states Roy. He names some recent examples:
Life extension conversion
"The Anchor Handling Tug Supply Vessel Skandi Hera is an Ulstein design delivered by Ulstein Verft in 2009. We were contacted by the ship owner, DOF, in 2024 for a life extension conversion to a new charter. The vessel was originally delivered without an offshore crane but needed a crane for her new assignment. Ulstein Design & Solutions AS performed the necessary stability and strength calculations, engineering the crane pedestal and boom rest, and the inclining test in Kristiansand, where the crane was installed in March 2024."
Since then, the vessel has been operating in the North Sea and will commence a charter off the coast of West Africa in September this year. "The crane is working perfectly, and Ulstein Design & Solutions performed a very good job," says project manager Herulf Andersen at DOF.
Feasibility study
"We have also recently performed a feasibility study on a Platform Supply Vessel of an external design. The vessel was about to enter a new chart and needed a comprehensive conversion, implementation of a moonpool and a substantial amount of topside equipment. Most of our technical disciplines were involved, including steel, machine, electro, accommodation, and stability."
Dynamic positioning upgrade
"We are currently working on a vessel upgrade from DP1 to DP2 (dynamic positioning) for one of our clients. This work is performed in close cooperation with our colleagues at Ulstein Power & Control and their suppliers."
Strength calculations, engineering and equipment integration
"Also this year, we docked the Multi-Purpose Offshore Vessel Island Constructor at Ulstein Verft for a major upgrade. The vessel has a skidding system to move offshore units, and there was a demand to move larger units for her new assignment. Ulstein Design & Solutions performed the strength calculations and engineered the foundation for new equipment, while Ulstein Verft integrated the new subsea equipment."
"The equipment was adapted in the hangar, on the deck, in the tower and the ship in general", said Trond-Eivind Larsen, topside group leader at the operator company TIOS, a part of the TechnipFMC group.
Various other service work was also done for Island Offshore, including installing a ballast water treatment system (BWTS) and overhauling the engines.
Other upgrades
Other recent examples are the upgrade of the C/SOV Windea Leibniz and the seismic vessel SW Tasman.
How can we make shipping more sustainable?
Decarbonising the existing fleet is on the agenda for the shipping community.
"We expect that most of the existing vessels in the fleet under 10 or even 15 years will explore retrofit opportunities to expand their operational life with a greener profile," says Jose Jorge Garcia Agis, managing director at Ulstein International.
“Ulstein Design & Solutions is actively exploring different retrofit opportunities for the existing Ulstein designs in operation. "We are in discussions with relevant customers and other stakeholders to make such retrofit opportunities a reality," says Jose.
Enhancing competitiveness with our comprehensive aftermarket services
Our clients appreciate a partner with design and engineering capacity, our own shipyard, and all the necessary facilities and disciplines.
Ulstein offers several aftermarket services to provide our customers professional access to retrofits, conversions, service and maintenance, repairs, and upgrades. The close cooperation between design, engineering, production, and operation makes us an effective supplier of aftermarket services and spare parts retail.
