Page 30: of Maritime Reporter Magazine (April 2026)

ENGINEERING

Tore Ulstein highlights the group's commitment to sustainable technology, such as hybrid propulsion systems, which evolved from the same innovation-led strategy established in 1999.

Photo credit: Jose? ne Spiro/JoDa Media

By 2024, the strategy bore fruit as Ulstein Group returned to pro? tability.

The Art of Stimulating Creativity

How does Ulstein maintain this creative edge? The chair- man points to three non-negotiable criteria: you must know something (competence), you must want something (drive), and you must be allowed (permission).

“You need the competence and the inner drive, but the deciding factor is having owners who give you the space to experiment,” he explained. He describes this as a balance be- tween Yin and Yang—structure for productivity, but protec- tion for “creative chaos.”

An example of this playfulness is the ULSTEIN THOR, a visionary concept for a thorium-powered ? oating power station unveiled at the Seatrade Cruise Global convention in Miami in 2022. Designed as a mobile charging hub for electric ? eets in reduction in fuel consumption. Furthermore, the enclosed cable sensitive regions like Antarctica, it eliminates the need for indi- hangar protects sensitive ? ber-optics from the elements and sig- vidual ships to return to port for fuel, dramatically reducing the ni? cantly improves the working conditions for those on board.

industry’s environmental footprint.

But when asked about the next “big nut to crack,” Ulstein “We knew the technology wasn’t ready, but we chose to go looks beyond hull shapes.

public to bring the industry along on the journey and strength- “The next frontier is digitalization and Arti? cial Intelli- en our brand as an innovator,” Ulstein said.

gence (AI),” he said.

By harvesting ? eet data through proprietary systems, Ul-

Digital Horizons stein aims to support real-time decisions to reduce emissions

The innovative spirit that began with the Bourbon Orca contin- and enhance safety.

ues to open doors in new markets. Ulstein recently signed a con-

For Tore Ulstein, the mindset remains exactly as it was in tract with Malaysia’s OMS Group for the building of two next- 2003: the courage to challenge the established. “If we only generation cable-laying vessels for 2028. These SX252 designs tried to be as good as the others, we would always be a step incorporate the X-BOW® to ensure more comfortable motion behind,” he concluded. “We must have the desire to challenge for both the crew and the delicate cable equipment, alongside a the status quo.” 30 Maritime Reporter & Engineering News • April 2026

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