November 12 - The first of BigRoll Shipping's four MC Class vessels under construction, BigRoll Barentsz, has been launched at China's Cosco Dalian Shipyard.
The delivery of BigRoll Barentsz is still on schedule for March 2016, while the second vessel, BigRoll Bering, is expected to be launched in December 2015 and delivered in May 2016.
The remaining vessels - BigRoll Baffin and BigRoll Beaufort - are scheduled for respective delivery in the second half of 2016 and early 2017.
Immediately after delivery to the Dutch carrier, which is a joint venture between BigLift Shipping and RollDock Shipping, the first two vessels will enter into a multi-year contract with Yamgaz - the consortium of Technip, JGC Corporation and Chiyoda - for module transportation as part of the Yamal LNG project.
BigRoll's newly designed MC class module carrier vessel has been developed with a particular focus on high ballast capacity, low fuel consumption, high service speed, and excellent seakeeping behaviour - which BigRoll says will provide lower acceleration forces on the cargo.
The Dutch-flagged vessels are designed to deliver modules and equipment for large projects and with a 1A ice classification, are capable of traveling to remote areas, such as the Arctic regions as well as directly offshore.
HLPFI reported on the four newbuild vessels in December 2014.
