The benefits of the ULSTEIN X-BOW® are not to be found in its characteristic appearance – the secret lies in volume distribution. The bow shape deflects pounding from the sea while the ship is in motion, allowing the ship to maintain higher speeds in bad weather.
In 2006 the first vessel with the ULSTEIN X-BOW®, the anchor-handling vessel Bourbon Orca, was put into service. Shortly after, the platform supply vessels Bourbon Mistral and Bourbon Monsoon were put to work. Feedback from the ships has been very positive. So far, seven shipping companies has ordered 20 more vessels with the innovative bow to be delivered from 2008 to 2010.
Seismic research vessels
ULSTEIN X-BOW® has caught the eye of international shipping, also outside the offshore segment. Seismic research vessels tow the streamers along long straight lines, making it important to minimize hull motion and maintain an even speed during surveying. There has also been demand for ships with the new bow in the areas of sea transport and container shipping.
Positive feedback
The reverse bow has many competitive advantages when it comes to performance, safety and working environment. According to captain Dag Ervik of the Bourbon Mistral, the ship can maintain a higher speed than other supply ships because of the ULSTEIN X-BOW®. The bow provides a smoother ride when running either with or against the waves, and thus better comfort. Many crew members have reported that the resting time is much better onboard ships with an ULSTEIN X-BOW®. Consequently, the crews are in better shape to carry out demanding operations when on duty.
External environment
Because of the ship’s smooth ride, fuel consumption is reduced by four to seven percent, depending on how the ship is operated. Lower fuel consumption also means less emissions.
“ULSTEIN X-BOW®’s innovative design fits well with Eidesvik’s environmental profile; a ship with this bow is a logical choice for us,” says shipowner Eidesvik´s CEO Jan Fredrik Meling.
Innovation
One of the basic tenets of the Ulstein Group is innovation.
“We wish to be one step ahead. Creative enthusiasm among our employees is necessary to be able to realise brilliant ideas such as the ULSTEIN X-BOW®,” states Ulstein Group´s CEO Gunvor Ulstein.
Fact box:
Bourbon Offshore Norway
Offshore supply shipowner Bourbon Offshore Norway is based in Fosnavåg, Norway, but is a member of the French Bourbon Group with offshore activities all over the world. Bourbon Offshore Norway was the first shipowner to order vessels with ULSTEIN X-BOW® – the anchor-handling vessel Bourbon Orca (ULSTEIN AX104) and the platform supply vessels Bourbon Mistral and Bourbon Monsoon (ULSTEIN PX105). In addition, the company has ordered four such platform supply vessels to be constructed at Zhejiang Shipyard in China.
Island Offshore
Headquartered in Ulsteinvik, Norway, the Island Offshore Group is a provider of services to the offshore industry ranging from platform supply and anchor handling to advanced subsea operations, including increased oil recovery (IOR) and light well intervention (LWI). The shipowner has ordered the first offshore construction vessel in the ULSTEIN X-BOW® series, the Island Constructor (ULSTEIN SX121), which is due for delivery from Ulstein Verft in May 2008.
Esvagt
Esvagt, based in Esbjerg, Denmark, operates within the business areas of ERRV standby and AHTS multirole vessels, safety training, production and sale of safety equipment, and oil spill contingency. The company has a global focus, but its main activity is in and around the North Sea shipping industry. Esvagt is part of the SvitzerWijsmuller Group, which is fully owned by the A.P. Møller-Mærsk Group. Esvagt has two ULSTEIN SX123 standby rescue/field support vessels on order, to be delivered from Factoria Naval Marin, Spain, in 2009.
Eidesvik
Eidesvik operates a modern fleet of highly specialised vessels in three main segments – cable laying, supply and logistics, and subsea and seismic survey. The shipowner is based at Bømlo, Norway. Eidesvik has a large offshore construction vessel (ULSTEIN SX121) and two seismic/research vessels (ULSTEIN SX120) on order at Ulstein Verft, with deliveries in 2008 and 2010, respectively.
Eastern Echo
Seismic company Eastern Echo was established in 2007. The company has ordered a total of six ULSTEIN SX124 seismic research vessels, four to be delivered from Astilleros Barreras, Spain, in 2008–2009 and two to be delivered from Drydocks World Dubai in 2009.
Marine Subsea
African Offshore Services, the holding company of Marine Subsea Inc., was established in 2007, and will carry out well intervention and other oilservice-related operations
in West Africa. Marine Subsea has two ULSTEIN SX121 well intervention ships on order from Ulstein Design. The vessels will be delivered from Ulstein Verft in 2009 and 2010.
EDT
Shipowner EDT was established in Limassol, Cyprus, in 1980. Core operations include towage and salvage, specialised subsea operations, pipeline installations and ship agency services. The company has recently ordered two ULSTEIN PX105 platform supply vessels. The ships will be delivered from Astilleros de Sevilla, Spain, in 2009.
