Drydocks World shipyard has signed a contract with Shanghai Zhenhua Heavy Industries (ZPMC) for a 5,000-tonne capacity floating sheerleg crane.
The crane features a 160 m A-frame, allowing heavy loads to be lifted 120 m above the water, and a 600-tonne fly jib that can extend its reach to 180 m. This capability enables the installation of larger vessel modules constructed in the yard and lifted onto the vessel for assembly, both nearshore and offshore.
The crane can accommodate up to 50 personnel offshore, thereby reducing the need for support vessels. Once operational, the crane will allow Drydocks World to meet the growing demands of large-scale projects, such as high-voltage offshore converter platforms and floating production storage and offloading (FPSO) vessel topsides.
The signing ceremony took place in Dubai, attended by sultan Ahmed bin Sulayem, group chairman, DP World ceo, Captain Rado Antolovic, ceo of Drydocks World, You Ruikai, chairman of ZPMC, and senior management from both companies.
Antolovic said: “Acquiring the Middle East and Africa’s largest crane of this type is a transformative step for Drydocks World. As offshore vessels continue to grow in size, the need for advanced lifting solutions with features like angled booms has become increasingly important. This new sheerleg crane, with its ability to handle heavier modules and expedite project timelines, enables us to manage more extensive and complex projects.”
The design, construction, testing, and commissioning phase is expected to take approximately 24 months, with completion scheduled in the second quarter of 2026.
The company has recently been involved in projects such as the conversion of Tango FLNG and Excalibur FSU vessels, the refurbishment and conversion of Firenze FPSO and the ongoing EPC project on UK Norfolk Vanguard offshore wind platforms.
