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Shipbuilder and designer Ulstein is looking to take its revolutionary Thorium powered vessel concept from the drawing board to the deep blue sea. Is this the solution that industry, and society, have been searching for to enable a truly sustainable maritime future?<\/strong><\/p>\n Everything about the launch of ULSTEIN THOR was unexpected.<\/strong><\/p>\n The vessel concept, a 149m 3R (Replenishment, Research and Rescue) design with a Thorium Molten Salt Reactor (MSR), took the industry, and wider society, by surprise. Its unveiling at Seatrade, Miami in late April unleashed a wave of global media coverage, spilling over beyond the trade press onto news platforms like CNN, kickstarting countless conversations about the future of Thorium as one of the most viable sources of clean energy for deep sea shipping.<\/p>\n No one was as taken aback as Ulstein\u2019s Chief Designer \u00d8yvind G. Kamsv\u00e5g: “<\/strong>I think we\u2019d been operating in a bit of a bubble,\u201d he says, from Ulstein\u2019s base in the spectacular surroundings of Ulsteinvik on the west coast of Norway. \u201cWe were excited, of course, but had no idea it\u2019d take off in this way \u2013 that other stakeholders, from maritime and beyond, would seize on the potential and huge commercial and environmental opportunity here.\u201d<\/p>\n He continues: \u201cI think the timing has been absolutely critical. I mean we\u2019ve been thinking about Thorium and nuclear vessels since 2008, but we didn\u2019t know if the industry was ready. Now, clearly, it is! So, how can we take this from the drawing board to operation as a key enabler for a sustainable maritime industry?<\/p>\n \u201cThat\u2019s the next, critical step… and we\u2019re not alone in being keen to move forwards.\u201d<\/p>\n THOR to the rescue<\/strong><\/p>\n Kamsv\u00e5g\u2019s reference to the concept as a \u201ca key enabler\u201d is one of the aspects that supercharged interest in what was almost immediately recognised as so much more than a standalone vessel concept.<\/p>\n At the time of its launch, Ulstein presented the idea as a way to charge an all-electric cruise ship concept, ULSTEIN SIF, demonstrating its commercial viability. However, its potential was seen to stretch far beyond that, as Kamsv\u00e5g now reveals.<\/p>\n \u201cTHOR has a superpower, right?\u201d he smiles. \u201cAnd there\u2019s a multitude of applications and operational capabilities where that can be utilised. Beyond the zero emissions and remote replenishment, research and rescue functionality, the vessel\u2019s reactor could be used as an emergency power supply for regions hit by natural disasters, epidemics, or conflicts.<\/p>\n \u201cSimilarly, it could be utilised as part of society\u2019s renewable energy mix and compensate for fluctuating power supplies \u2013 e.g., from offshore wind parks \u2013 by supporting grid networks. The huge power capacity available could also be utilised for producing alternative fuels, or synthetic fuels through a CO2\u00a0<\/sub>refinery, or for delivering shore power at ports.<\/p>\n \u201cAnd all that functionality is before we even get on to the different vessel types where THOR can either be used to recharge all-electric ships, or integrated MSRs can be housed within vessels as the primary power source.\u201d<\/p>\n An almost breathless Kamsv\u00e5g notes, \u201cthat\u2019s pretty much all of deep-sea shipping\u201d, before taking a brief pause.<\/p>\n Let\u2019s do the same.<\/p>\n Tomorrow\u2019s solutions today<\/strong><\/p>\n Ulstein, for those unfamiliar with the relatively small, privately-owned business, is renowned within its niche for delivering innovations that shift industry paradigms. The most obvious are the X-BOW and the X-STERN; sloping designs that glide through the oceans to deliver greater operability, comfort, operational functionality and energy efficiency. June saw the company sign its first contract to design TWIN X-STERN offshore wind CSOVs (construction service operating vessels) with dual-fuel methanol engines: an agreement that shows how Ulstein takes an effective, step-change approach on the path to a zero emissions future.<\/p>\n \u201cWe always design with the best solution in mind for the application,\u201d Kamsv\u00e5g notes, \u201cbut we\u2019re guided by our vision to create tomorrow\u2019s solutions for sustainable marine operations. That\u2019s driven all our innovations \u2013 from the X-BOW to hybrid and electric solutions \u2013 and THOR is clearly connected to that creative \u2018red thread\u2019.\u201d<\/p>\n The headline grabber with the concept was undoubtedly the use of the MSR, which works by dissolving Thorium \u2013 an abundant, naturally occurring metal with low radioactivity \u2013 in liquid salt. This creates a chain reaction that heats the salt, producing steam to drive a turbine and generate emissions free electricity. The technology is proven and safe, but, until Ulstein took centre stage, had yet to be incorporated into a vessel design.<\/p>\n However, it was the application that proved as stimulating for stakeholders as the energy source, as Torill Muren, Lead Naval Architect, Ulstein Design & Solutions, makes clear.<\/p>\n Enabling change<\/strong><\/p>\n \u201cTHOR essentially operates as a floating, mobile, multi-purpose \u2018power station\u2019,\u201d she says, \u201cone that never needs refuelling \u2013 instantly creating the ocean infrastructure needed to facilitate a new battery revolution.<\/p>\n \u201cIn THOR\u2019s case, it would offer the charging capacity to satisfy the power needs of four expedition cruise ships (ULSTEIN SIFs), as well as providing research facilities for polar operations, and acting as a rescue vessel for remote regions where there is simply no emergency response capacity.<\/p>\n \u201cWe see it as the missing piece of the puzzle when it comes to enabling safe, sustainable operations, anywhere on Earth. As such, it really does have the capability to transform our industry.\u201d<\/p>\n Electric revolution\u00a0<\/strong><\/p>\n It’s this potential that really captures the imagination.<\/p>\n At present, there\u2019s no \u201csilver bullet\u201d for deep sea maritime, with heated debate on which fuel will accelerate the industry towards the zero emissions horizon. Batteries are already established within short sea circles and THOR – when solid-state batteries come online \u2013 could literally transfer the same development to the deep for relevant segments, while others use integrated MSRs as their dedicated power source.<\/p>\n Again, it\u2019s a question of infrastructure.<\/p>\n \u201cLook at the adoption of electric cars in Norway,\u201d says Kamsv\u00e5g, by way of comparison. \u201c65% of all cars sold in Norway last year were electric, with that figure rising to 84% in January 2022. Nobody that needs a car wants to wreck the environment, but you must have the charging infrastructure in place to enable a meaningful switch to zero emissions transport; something that has been achieved with great success in Norway. THOR, or a concept like it, is the solution for establishing that same charging infrastructure at sea.<\/p>\n \u201cIn fact,\u201d he continues, \u201cthat\u2019s such a unique commercial opportunity. Why doesn\u2019t somebody, a wealthy individual or a progressive company, buy a fleet of THORs and suddenly create a network of floating charging stations to power green shipping? What an amazing opportunity for a new, sustainable revenue stream. The possibilities of this are almost limitless.\u201d<\/p>\n Generating interest<\/strong><\/p>\n \u201cLimitless\u201d is a phrase that also works to describe the interest in THOR since it thundered onto the scene at Seatrade. Ulstein says it has been inundated with enquiries and media requests from people eager to probe the feasibility of MSRs and the concept, and, Muren states, it\u2019s all been positive.<\/p>\n \u201cWe expected some pushback,\u201d she notes, \u201cbut apart from a few outlying comments here and there on social media it\u2019s been universally enthusiastic. The Class societies we\u2019ve spoken to are, if anything, eager to push this and look into the idea of drafting approvals in principle and white papers. At the same time research is gathering momentum, with new funding just allocated by the Norwegian Research Council (NFR) for a maritime nuclear power project at the Norwegian University of Science and Technology (NTNU).<\/p>\n \u201cWe know that technology developers and suppliers very clearly see the potential, Flag States have, so far, seemed very positive, and forward-thinking clients are intrigued by the idea of a reliable, emissions free and stable source of power.\u201d<\/p>\n The word \u201cstable\u201d brings Kamsv\u00e5g back into the conversation, with the topic of timing resurfacing.<\/p>\n Accelerating innovation<\/strong><\/p>\n \u00a0\u201cI think that\u2019s been key,\u201d he states. \u201cThe war in Ukraine and the shifting geopolitical situation have demonstrated the need for energy security, or even self-sufficiency, while the very pressing demand for transitioning to more sustainable ways of doing business is top of everyone\u2019s agendas now. We need to take action to change, and THOR, and Thorium, demonstrate a tangible way forward.\u201d<\/p>\n But, is this feasible? Can it work? And when?<\/strong><\/p>\n Kamsv\u00e5g seems convinced that MSRs are ideal for maritime, pointing to the fact that other nuclear solutions are already in use on, for example, naval air craft carriers and submarines. MSRs, he says, offer a simpler, safer option. Technology developers are already well underway with analogous projects (such as power barges and desalination plants) and the interest is clear\u2026 so \u201cyes\u201d is his unequivocal answer to the first two questions.<\/p>\n But when?<\/strong><\/p>\n Kamsv\u00e5g delivers a final smile, noting: \u201cWell, if you asked me to give a conservative estimate I\u2019d say 10 to 15 years before all the pieces are in place to launch THOR into operations. BUT, when there\u2019s a very clear need, it\u2019s human nature to supercharge innovation to achieve goals. Just look at how quickly a COVID vaccine was developed, tested and approved. A ten-year approval norm became one year when we had no choice.<\/p>\n \u201cAnd do we have a choice in switching to a zero-emissions maritime industry? No, we do not. It\u2019s time for THOR.\u201d<\/p>\n<\/div>\n maritime professional<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":" Shipbuilder and designer Ulstein is looking to take its revolutionary Thorium powered vessel concept from the drawing board to the deep blue sea. Is this the solution that industry, and society, have been searching for to enable a truly sustainable maritime future? Everything about the launch of ULSTEIN THOR was unexpected. 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