Norway’s MaritiMe iNdustries
Ulstein takes another bow
Norwegian design and shipbuilding specialist takes further steps towards
diversification.
T
he Ulstein Group continues to make
waves through acquisition, after
its bid to purchase Dutch designer
Sea of Solutions (see The Naval Architect,
November 2007, p8) and its agreement to
take over engineering company Maritime and
Mechanical Technology (MMT).
Having established the Ulstein Es-Cad
partnership, in Turkey, in mid-2007, with a
view to taking its revolutionary X-Bow design
to the merchant marine market, the proposed Ulstein’s X-Bow configuration could have application for Sea of Solutions’ designs for
Sea of Solutions acquisition sees Ulstein vessels operating in heavy seas.
spreading its wings in its traditional offshore
sector, with a leap into more specialised
tonnage than has hitherto been its mainstay. rigs, FPSOs, crane vessels to platform support missing from the Ulstein portfolio, Dr Brett
Ulstein deputy managing director, Per vessels and anchor handling tugs, Dr Brett offered: ‘More engineering capacity, aftersales
Olaf Brett, said that, in concluding that high said. services, and international infrastructure.’
oil prices were here to stay, the ship designer ‘As the second leg of the UMVH [Ulstein Accordingly, early December saw Ulstein
and builder was of the view that offshore Mekaniske Verksted Holding] operations, the agree the purchase of Norway-based MMT.
exploration and production activity of oil and short sea shipping segment will be supplied ‘This company has highly valuable skills
gas reserves would only accelerate. with novel and cost-effective competitive cargo and expertise that is very interesting to us, and
‘Reserves in harsh and challenging waters carrying vessels in almost all segments and size that will strengthen our operations,’ said Tore
will play an even more prominent role than of ranges (container feeders, box-bulkers, general Ulstein, Ulstein Group deputy chief executive.
the past,’ he said. ‘Costs of these services will dry cargo ships, smaller tankers, chemical ‘To be able to increase volume in existing
escalate and cost-effectiveness thinking will carriers, reefers, ro-ro vessels and others)’. and new market segments, the sale of design
become imminent. Oil companies will increase Sea of Solutions is a company of 12 people. and package solutions is an important area
their control over the value chain in these However, Dr Brett said it produced about 50 to for the group. And a vital factor in realising
offshore exploration and production activities. 70 man-years worth of design and engineering this is more and competent resources on the
Work vessels of all kinds will, therefore, have to work each year. ‘They specialise in developing engineering side. MMT’s experience with
be better cooordinated from a functional and and producing competitive conceptual designs, building and leading international engineering
operational standpoint. The Ulstein group and subcontract most of the engineering work,’ networks will therefore complement our
will, in the future, become a central single he said. growth strategy extremely well.’
point of contact for oil majors and offshore The new parent would take over a company MMT offers engineering services with focus
contractors to pursue this issue and find heavily involved in finalising projects that on electro and hull structure. The company
new and better offshore solutions. The new include: multi-purpose installation vessels (S- owns engineering companies in Croatia and has
and much broader portfolio of work vessel lay, J-lay, or Reel-laying vessels); dynamically partnerships with engineering environments
designs and complementary project maker positioned crane and pipelaying vessels; in India. It employs approximately 20 people
services the Ulstein Group and Ulstein Sea dynamically positioned heavylift crane lift and has extensive experience of coordinating
of Solutions together will provide from here vessels; ultra deepwater drillships; shallow- Norwegian and foreign engineering groups.
on, is instrumental to achieve this position. water draft drilling barges; and mega- MMT was set up in 2006 by Harald Bigset.
Sea of Solutions has already demonstrated crane and pipelay barges. Projects are now He still leads the company, and together with
capabilities in the field of finding competitive underway with Scandinavian, American, and the other employees he will join the Ulstein
heavy offshore solutions. Their positon will Dutch interests in Singapore, China, and The Group.
be further strengthened by Ulstein’s fame, Netherlands. The Ulstein Group said it needed a
financial solidity, experience, expertise and Dr Brett added that ‘it might be relevant to coordinated unit for engineering and therefore
resources pool.’ look at X-Bow both in the forward and stern wished to set up Ulstein Engineering. The
The acquisition saw the Ulstein Group part of such vessels to improve their heavy company will build up a robust international
expanding its area of business interests to cover weather performance.’ engineering network by coordinating and
the whole range of offshore work vessels - oil Asked in late November what still remained developing existing resources. NA
42 The Naval Architect January 2008
NA Jan - p42.indd 42 04/01/2008 15:33:39
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