Heavy Lift Transportation News

Transportation cradles are a key component in the build, transportation and launch of a ship and a suitable design can be fundamental in the success of these operations. Throughout their use they will support the various blocks and completed ship during construction, act as the interface between the vessel and SPMT’s (Self Propelled Modular Transporters) or barge, and ultimately support the ship during float off operations. The cradles are possibly the only item of equipment that will see the ship from very early stages of construction through until she is floating in the water.

The Netherlands-based maritime engineering company Conoship International recently signed a contract with China’s Mawei Shipyard for the design of Spliethoff’s two multipurpose DP2 B-type vessels.The versatile characteristics of this new B-Type make this vessel unique in the market and will comply with the requirements of IMO Tier III. They are built under class of Lloyd’s Register, have ice class 1A and also comply with the Polar code.The ships are to be delivered in October 2021 en February 2022.Shipping company Spliethoff Group, Amsterdam, has recently ordered nine new ships from Chinese shipyards. For all of which Conoship International has been selected to deliver the design.

Amsterdam-based Spliethoff Group has recently signed a contract with  China’s Mawei Shipyard for the newbuild of two DP2- B-type vessels.The largest shipowner in the Netherlands said the design combines the capacity of a multipurpose vessel with DP2 station-keeping up to Beaufort scale 6, which makes it well suited for supplying heavy cargo directly offshore."To obtain the fast, safe and efficient loading and discharge of pipes, both on and offshore, the vessel has a removable, automated, pipe-handling gantry crane installed," it said.The B-Type is also equipped with two Huisman 500 mt Heavy Lift Mast cranes, making her suitable for both heavy lift transportation and offshore installation.

On Monday, 17th June, heavy-lift vessel Black Marlin departed Shanghai. On deck with eighteen Concordia Damen inland shipping vessel hulls and a Damen Crane Barge 6324, bound for Rotterdam. Concordia Damen regularly conducts such heavy-lift transportations as a means of providing its customers with cost-efficient vessels.The hulls and crane barge had been constructed at yards in China. They are scheduled to arrive in the Port of Rotterdam mid-August. Upon arrival the hulls will…

Advances and developments in heavy lift transportation are allowing shipyards to rethink how, and where, they build and maintain vessels. Utilizing this technology can help a yard expand its order book and improve its bottom line. The use of Self-Propelled Modular Transporters (SPMTs) in shipyards enables a facility to expand its operations in numerous ways, including new building, maintenance and repair or storage. These projects can range from straightforward to complex transport engineering assignments.

Roll-Lift, the Heavy Lift Transportation Specialist based in The Netherlands has appointed Mr. Miguel Flórez de la Colina as their sole representative for clients based in Spain, Portugal and France for projects undertaken outside Europe. Miguel has extensive experience gained in the heavy lift and transport industry, having an involvement since 1998 and also actively working in the construction industry since 1995. He has managed sales and operations on a wide range of projects in the Petrochemical, Offshore, Civil and Power industries in the past and will bring added value to Roll-Lift’s client based in Spain, Portugal and France who have an involvement in projects across the world. Clients will now have a local point of contact for their tenders, studies and operations.

The wind turbine installation vessel (WTIV), MPI Discovery, has recommenced work at the Rampion Offshore Wind Farm off the south coast of England. Working closely together with Swire Blue Ocean’s Pacific Orca, MPI Discovery will continue with the installation of 116 monopile foundations during the second half of 2016. As a result of the black-bream-spawning season, installation activities were halted in late April as planned and only restarted at the beginning of July. This break in activities gave us the opportunity to complete a successful, periodic dry docking of MPI Discovery. Furthermore, during the same period the second installation vessel, Pacific Orca, was mobilised to join the foundation-installation campaign.

Damen Shipyards has presented a new shipping concept to the market: the Damen Offshore Carrier (DOC) is specifically designed as a smaller heavy transport vessel suitable for offshore installations. In cooperation with Damen, independent engineering and consultancy organization HMC informs it has fine-tuned the ballast system of the DOC, making it suitable for every offshore operation ranging from skid on-off, roll on-off as well as lifting operations. Heavy lift transportation…

Amarcon, an ABB Group company, today announced that the company will deliver OCTOPUS-Onboard vessel advisory solutions to a total of three vessels owned by Norwegian oil service company OHT AS and Korean heavy cargo transporter DongBang. The information and control system will support the vessels route planning, optimization of speed and insight in critical motions. The repeat order with OHT encompasses OCTOPUS motion monitoring and forecasting for vessel M/V Albatross. Amarcon has previously delivered advisory suites to OHT’s heavy lift cargo vessels Eagle, Falcon, Osprey and Hawk. “We have deployed the OCTOPUS technology across our fleet to improve the safety and efficiency of critical heavy lift transportation operations.

Drydocks World and Maritime World, the international providers of maritime and offshore services to the shipping, oil, gas, and energy sectors have been awarded the Best Oil & Gas Project Award for outstanding Project Excellence on the SOLAN Project. The gala event was held on the 30th anniversary of Abu Dhabi International Petroleum Exhibition & Conference (ADIPEC) at the Emirates Palace, Abu Dhabi on November 10 2014. According to ADIPEC officials, the judging panel received 396 participant entries from over 100 companies across 27 countries. The Regional Select Jury (RSJ), led by the Awards Chairman Mr Abdul Munim Saif Al Kindy, Chief Executive Officer…

The Korean based global shipping company Pan Ocean, has ordered OCTOPUS-Onboard system from Amarcon for two semi-submersible heavy lift vessels. The state-of-the-art ship monitoring and advisory system will support the vessels’ route planning, optimization of speed, heading and fuel consumption. For the two semi-submerging heavy lift vessels, the Sun Rise and the Sun Shine, Amarcon will deliver an OCTOPUS-Onboard installation including motion monitoring and forecasting. The system will increase workability and safety during heavy lift transportation projects.

Fairmount Marine, a Rotterdam-based marine contractor for ocean towage and heavy lift transportation, announced that its tugs Fairmount Summit and Fairmount Alpine towed rig ENSCO 5006 more than 13,000 miles from Cyprus to Singapore. Before the departure off Limasol, Cyprus, both Fairmount tugs performed anchor handling work for the rig. On request of its owners cargo and crew runs were done during a stop off Las Palmas and a bunker stop was made at Port Nqgura, South Africa. Transit speeds up to 9 knots were reached during part of the voyage.

Tug Fairmount Sherpa towed rig Sevan Louisiana safely from Singapore to Curaçao. During the 11,500 miles voyage via Cape of Good Hope, stops were made in Port Louis (Mauritius), Walvis Bay (Namibia) and Port of Spain (Trinidad) to take bunkers and for crew changes. Sevan Louisiana is a so called Ultra Deep Water rig (UDW), built in 2013 at the Cosco shipyard in Nantong, China, for UK-based Seadrill Ltd. The self-propelled rig, equipped with eight thrusters, can accommodate up to 150 crew members.

Tug Fairmount Glacier has towed pipelay-vessel Castoro Sei to Rotterdam, the Netherlands, from where the vessel will start her seasonal activities on the North Sea. The Fairmount Glacier hooked-up with Castoro Sei in Genoa, Italy. The Castoro Sei is a 28,000 ton DWT 152 meters long semi-submersible pipelay-vessel operated by Italian Saipem. For her towage from Genoa towards Rotterdam the Fairmount Glacier was mobilized from Las Palmas. The convoy reached Gibraltar within six days.

Fairmount Marine said its tug, Fairmount Glacier, has safely delivered bulk carrier Cassiopeia Star in the port of Las Palmas, Canary Islands. The bulker was picked up during bad weather on the mid-Atlantic where she was drifting with main engine problems. Fairmount Marine, a marine contractor for ocean towage and heavy lift transportation, was contracted by Tsavliris Salvage to assist. After steaming at full speed for 1,720 miles the Fairmount Glacier met with the still drifting Cassiopeia Star.

Fairmount Marine said it had delivered rig ENSCO 5004 in Malta at the end of a voyage that began offshore Rio de Janeiro. Rig ENSCO 5004 is a 1982 built 94.7 meters long and 70.4 meters wide semi-submersible drilling rig. The towage of rig ENSCO 5004 from Rio de Janeiro to Malta took about 5,782 nautical miles and during the voyage speeds well over seven knots were reached. Fairmount Marine is a marine contractor for ocean towage and heavy lift transportation, headquartered in Rotterdam, the Netherlands.

Fairmount Marine say they have safely delivered the semi-submersible drilling rig ENSCO 5004 to Malta at the end of a voyage that began offshore Rio de Janeiro. The 5,782 nautical mile towage of the 94,7 meters long and 70,4 meters wide rig from from Rio de Janeiro to Malta was accomplished at speeds well over 7 knots at times. Fairmount Marine, part of Louis Dreyfus Armateurs Group, is a marine contractor for ocean towage and heavy lift transportation, headquartered in Rotterdam, the Netherlands.

Fairmount Marine’s multipurpose vessel Fairmount Fuji has assisted Italian contractor Saipem with her operations offshore Congo. Fairmount Fuji has performed several cargo runs between Siapem’s Boscongo yard in Pointe Noire and the offshore Congo moored drilling ship Siapem 1000. Fairmount Fuji also took care of the transport of Saipem crew. Drilling ship Saipem 1000, a fifth-generation drilling ship for ultra deepwater operations, was moored offshore Congo pending her next assignment. Fairmount Marine was contracted to assist in the crew change and in the transfer of cargo.

'Fairmount Expedition' delivers offshore support vessel (OSV) 'Harvey Rover' safely in the port of Paramaribo, Suriname after the OSV had engine problems in the South Atlantic. Harvey Rover encountered engine problems while en route from South Africa to Trinidad. Super-tug Fairmount Expedition was in Trinidad when her assistance was required by the owner of Harvey Rover, US-based Harvey Gulf International. When facing engine problems the 2010 build, 3.134 DWT, 75 meters long OSV was en route towards Trinidad and about 330 miles North-East of Brazilian port Ponta de Madeira.

Super tug Fairmount Glacier has delivered rig Falcon 100 safely offshore Pointe-Noire, Congo. The rig was towed from Rio de Janeiro via the South Atlantic Ocean over a distance of more than 3,400 miles. The Falcon 100 is a 1974 build semi submersible drilling rig, owned by U.S.-based Transocean and capable to drill to a depth of 7.620 meters. For this job the Fairmount Glacier was mobilized from Trinidad. First the tug towed the Falcon 100 from her drilling location offshore Macae, Brazil, to offshore Rio de Janeiro.

Tug Fairmount Glacier has delivered rig La Muralla IV in Bay of Campeche, Mexico. The rig has been towed from Okpo, South Korea, via Sunda Strait and Cape of Good Hope. La Muralla IV is a brand new semi-submersible drilling rig for ultra deep water operations, owned by Mexican Grupo R. The rig is constructed by Deawoo Shipbuilding & Marine Engineering in South Korea. La Muralla IV is designed to drill up to depths of 10.000 meters. The rig has a length of 118,6 meters and a width of 96,7 meters.

Super tugs Fairmount Sherpa and Fairmount Expedition have towed the drilling rig Noble Max Smith from the Gulf to Brazil. Both tugs hooked-up in Pascagoula Mississippi, USA. For this job the Fairmount Sherpa and the Fairmount Expedition were mobilized to the departure location from there previous projects. Fairmount Sherpa had just delivered the rig Atwood Condor in Trinidad after a speedy crossing of the Atlantic and the turbulent waters around the Cape of Good Hope and Fairmount Expedition was successfully involved in the salvage of the ill fated container vessel MSC Flaminia.

Crowley Maritime subsidiary Titan Salvage appoint Michael G. Johnson Vice-President of Business Strategy & Process. Johnson will report to TITAN’s Managing Director Rich Habib, and will be domiciled in the company’s Houston office. In his new role, he will be responsible for assisting with the administration and running of TITAN, focusing on strategic issues to help further grow the business. “It is very exciting for us to have Michael on our team, especially during a time of continued growth and international expansion in our company,” said Habib.