On April 26, Ulstein, a Norwegian ship design and construction group, unveiled a ship design concept that it claims would enable zero-emission cruise ship operations. The design, named UlsteinThor, is a 149-meter 3R (Replenishment, Research and Rescue) designed and employs a thorium-based molten salt reactor nuclear energy system (MSR) to produce large amounts of clean, safe electricity. This allows the vessel to act as a power bank/charging station for battery-powered cruise ships.
To prove its feasibility, Ulstein also developed the ULSTEIN SIF concept design, a 100-meter-long, 160-POB capacity, zero-emission long-haul cruise ship. The ice-resistant class 1C vessel can operate with a new generation of batteries and is capable of being charged at sea with the Ulstein Thor.
"We have the goals, ambitions and environmental imperatives to move to zero-emission operations, but until now we haven't found a solution," commented Cathrine Kristiseter Marti, CEO of Ulstein. The 'UlsteinThor' is essentially a floating, multi-purpose "power station" that will spark a new battery revolution. ”
According to reports, thorium has been identified as a huge potential source for the marine industry to pursue clean alternative fuels. MSR is a safe, efficient, and proven solution that works by dissolving thorium, a rich, naturally occurring, lowly radioactive metal, in a molten mixture of salts. A subsequent chain reaction heats up the salt, producing steam to drive the turbines and generate electricity. Known for its innovative and revolutionary X-BOW design, Ulstein explores opportunities to change that, heralding a new dawn of clean energy for cruise ships and offshore operations.
Speaking about the thorium-based molten salt reactor nuclear energy system (MSR) as an energy source for maritime applications, Jan Emblemsv g, a professor at the Norwegian University of Science and Technology, said: "MSR has great potential for enabling clean shipping. There are many uncertainties about the future of fuels, but we have abundant energy, and with the right approach, it can be safer, more efficient, cheaper, and has less impact on the environment than any existing alternative. ”
"From my perspective, I think this is the most likely and probably the only credible lazy solution that can operate a zero-emission fleet at market cost levels." The Thor concept is exactly the kind of innovation we need to achieve sustainable success at sea. ”
Team "ULSTEINTHOR"