Thorium-powered: ULSTEIN THOR zero-emission ship concept sparks major interest

Since unveiling the Thorium-powered ULSTEIN THOR design in April 2022, we have been swept by a wave of interest in the concept vessel and its unparalleled potential and capabilities. Set in a polar cruise context, ULSTEIN THOR alone could generate over 50 GWh of energy in a single 150-day cruise campaign. The result would be a significant environmental impact in Antarctica, with over 32,000 tonnes of CO2 emissions prevented.

ULSTEIN THOR

When realised, the ULSTEIN THOR design concept will serve as a mobile power and charging station, marking a new era by introducing a new breed of full-electric vessel operations. The 149m long vessel is categorised as a Replenishment, Research, and Rescue (3R) vessel. The plan is to equip the vessel with a Small Modular Reactor (SMR) or a Thorium Molten Salt Reactor (MSR) to generate 20 MW of clean, safe electricity. The ULSTEIN THOR design is not just a mobile power source but also has the potential to integrate into the renewable energy grid, thereby bolstering the power network.

ULSTEIN THOR was originally conceived as a replenishment vessel for expedition cruise ships operating in the Antarctic waters from October to March. Over 50 cruise vessels embark on expedition tours in the Antarctic peninsula during this period. To demonstrate the commercial viability of this concept, we introduced ULSTEIN SIF alongside ULSTEIN THOR. ULSTEIN SIF, a full-electric expedition cruise ship concept, is intended to operate on par with other cruise ships.