Ulstein has launched zero emission vessel concepts featuring a Thorium Molten Salt Reactor (MSR).
The 149-metre 3R (replenishment, research and rescue) vessel named Ulstein Thor would operate as a mobile /charging station for a new breed of battery driven cruise ships. Thor features helicopter pads, firefighting equipment, rescue booms, workboats, autonomous surface vehicles and airborne drones, cranes, laboratories, and a lecture lounge.
To demonstrate its feasibility, Ulstein has also developed the Ulstein Sif concept, a 100-metre long, cruise vessel that can accommodate up to 80 passengers and 80 crew, offering silent, zero emission expedition cruises to remote areas, including Arctic and Antarctic waters. This Ice Class 1C vessel would run on next generation batteries, using Thor to recharge while at sea.
Both Thor and Sif feature Ulstein’s X-BOW® design, created for greater operability, comfort, operational functionality and fuel efficiency.
Ulstein says that thorium has been identified as having huge potential for a maritime industry hunting for clean alternative fuels. MSRs are safe, efficient and operationally proven solutions that work by dissolving thorium – an abundant, naturally occurring metal with low radioactivity – in liquid salt. The ensuing chain reaction heats the salt, producing steam to drive a turbine and create electricity.
Thor’s charging capacity has been scaled to satisfy the power needs of four expedition cruise ships simultaneously. Thor itself would never need to refuel.
Speaking about the suitability of Thorium MSRs as an energy source for maritime applications, Jan Emblemsvåg, Professor at Norwegian University of Science and Technology, an expert in the field of Thorium and nuclear power generation, notes: “MSRs have enormous potential for enabling clean shipping. There is so much uncertainty over future fuels, but here we have an abundant energy source that, with the right approach, can be safe, much more efficient, cheaper, with a smaller environmental footprint than any existing alternative.”
Ulstein CEO Cathrine Kristiseter Marti, said: “We believe Thor might be the answer we’ve been looking for. Thor is essentially a floating, multi-purpose power station that will enable a new battery revolution. Expedition cruise ships operate in increasingly remote, and environmentally fragile, areas. At the same time the industry faces growing pressure from diverse stakeholders to preserve nature as it is and ban the environmental impact of cruising. Thor enables replenishment of energy and supplies on site, while also boasting the technology to facilitate rescue operations, as well as conducting research tasks. It is, in effect, a crucial piece of infrastructure to support sustainable and safer operations. Thor literally has the power to change our entire industry.”
