Norwegian shipbuilding group Ulstein has unveiled a concept design for a roll-on/roll-off passenger vessel featuring its trademark X-Box hull design.

The company says it sees the RoPax market as a segment that is primed for growth with fleet renewals expected in future.

The company’s X-Bow hull design was originally designed to support harsh environment offshore oil and gas industry, but the design was later adapted to meet the needs of offshore construction, offshore wind, and, more recently, the exploration cruise market.

“RoPax is a segment in growth, where we will see fleet renewals in the years to come,” says COO Design & Solutions, Tore Ulstein. “We have for some time worked to integrate Ulstein’s design mindset into a range of RoPax vessels. These vessels are all equipped with the X-BOW hull feature, a natural choice when operating in climatically rough conditions.”

To support ship construction, Ulstein has often turned to shipyards in China for help.

“Our RoPax vessel designs are optimized according to market needs and will be constructed in series for the volume market,” said Tore Ulstein. “We have had offices and site teams in Shanghai and Ningbo for many years, and our people have long experience in system integration and site follow-up.

“More than half of the more than 100 Ulstein designs which have been built outside Norway, have been constructed in China with Ulstein site teams present. We have good relations to our Chinese partner yards and are currently in dialogue with several yards on the construction of these RoPax vessels.”