Ulstein Design to be Built by Merwede

Solstad Offshore ASA signed a Letter of Intent with Dutch Merwede Shipyard to build an Ulstein P105 platform supply vessel, which signed a contract with reservations with Ulstein Design AS regarding the delivery of a design and equipment package worth a total of more than NOK 70 million. "This is Ulstein Design's first contract outside the Ulstein Group and is very important for us," says Ulstein Design's President, Tore Ulstein.

The first Ulstein P105 platform supply vessel was built in 2003, and earlier this year contracts were signed for two new construction projects and one option.

Ulstein Design will deliver the designs, a complete set of supporting drawings and equipment to the shipyard. "Among other things we are going to deliver the propulsion system, engines, cargo system and dynamic positioning system. In addition, through the Ulstein Group's electrical & control system company Ulstein Elektro, we will deliver all the marine electronics, switchboards, consoles and starters," said Ulstein Design's Vice President Market, Erik Andreassen. "As Ulstein Design's first foreign contract this is a very important project."

Merwede Shipyard is a new building and repair yard established in 1902, but this is the yard’s first offshore vessel reference. To date it has built and delivered a wide variety of vessels, including dredgers, ferries, tankers and cruise ships. Steel will be produced in the Netherlands and the yard will commence work on the construction project in the autumn of 2004. The vessel is to be delivered in September 2005.

“The fact that the design has been tested earlier means we will receive the supporting documentation in good time and can plan the construction in best possible manner," said the shipyard's Managing Director, T. Rietdijk.

Ulstein Design AS

In 1999 the former Ulstein Group was bought, and is currently owned by Rolls-Royce. However, the shipbuilding activities were not sold, but were continued in a new company, Ulstein Mekaniske Verksted Holding ASA (UMVH) – the new Ulstein Group. Work on building up a new design department started immediately, and the department has now become the separate company Ulstein Design AS. Today the company employs around 20 people. During the first five years after the takeover, Ulstein Design was subject to restrictions vis-à-vis the sale of their vessel designs to other yards. During this period, from 1999 to 2004, seven vessels of four different designs by Ulstein Design were built at the Ulstein Group's shipyard Ulstein Verft. The restrictions ceased to apply in February this year and Ulstein Design is now free to sell its vessel designs around the world.