December 4 - Dockwise Vanguard - an ultra-large semi-submersible heavy lift ship constructed for Dutch shipping company, Dockwise was christened at the end of last week.
Measuring 275 m x 70 m x 31.5 m, Dockwise Vanguard will become the largest heavy lift vessel in the world upon delivery, says its owners.
The engineering project was undertaken at the Hyundai Heavy Industries (HHI) shipyard in Ulsan, South Korea and has taken 19 months to accomplish.
The deadweight of the vessel is 117,000 tonnes and the heavy lift ship can be ballasted down in order to float cargo aboard. To lift its cargo, it is de-ballasted in order to raise the cargo deck above the water surface.
Dockwise Vanguard, featuring a bow-less design and powered by four Wartsila engines, is the first vessel that is capable of carrying full-size floating production storage and offloading vessels (FPSOs).
After completion of sea trials - expected before the end of 2012 - the new ship will transport the Jack & St. Malo platform hull from Korea to the US Gulf of Mexico. The Dockwise Vanguard is also contracted to transport the Goliat FPSO to Norway and the Aasta Hansteen spar platform to the Norwegian Sea.
www.dockwise.com
http://english.hhi.co.kr
