SAL Heavy Lift has added the semi-submersible vessel Zhong Ren 121 to its roster.
The vessel was handed over to Shanghai Salvage Company (SSC) in Shanghai on January 5. SAL Heavy Lift has now entered into its long-term time charter contract with SSC to manage and market the vessel for at least two years.
SAL Heavy Lift is now preparing for the takeover of sistership Zhong Ren 122 later this month. The two semi-submersible vessels, built in 2022, are equipped with DP2 systems and feasible for ro-ro cargo and flo-flo cargo.
As HLPFI previously reported, the vessels have a deck strength of 25 tonnes per sq m. Following delivery, SAL Heavy Lift will have the opportunity to utilise the two vessels for cargo transports from Asia to Europe. Afterwards, they will be deployed for an offshore wind farm project in the USA.
Once the wind farm project has been completed, the company intends to extend the charter contracts with SSC for an additional two to three years.
SAL Heavy Lift has been targeting the semi-submersible deck carrier market in recent years, establishing a special department for that purpose in 2021. Since 2017, meanwhile, SAL has been acting as the commercial agent for two Pan Ocean deck carriers, gaining valuable experience in the project-based chartering of external tonnage.
