Thor concept vessel sets sail with Molten Salt Reactor

This is the vision of Ulstein, a Ulsteinvik, Norway-based company that has launched Ulstein Thor, a concept 149m 3R (Replenishment, Research and Rescue) design that aims to make ‘zero-emission cruise operations a reality’.

To demonstrate its feasibility, Ulstein has also developed the ULSTEIN SIF concept, a 100m long, 160 POB capacity, zero-emission expedition cruise ship. This Ice Class 1C vessel would be designed to  run on next-generation batteries, utilising ‘Thor’ to recharge while at sea.

In a statement, Ulstein CEO Cathrine Kristiseter Marti said: “We have the goals, ambition and environmental imperative to switch to zero-emission operations, but, until now, we haven’t had the solution. 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."

Marti added: “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.”