Sembcorp Marine to build biggest crane vessel

The vessel, intended to install and remove offshore facilities, will be equipped with two Huisman heavy-lifting offshore cranes, each with a lifting capacity of 10,000 tonnes, and a large reinforced work deck area. With a vessel length of 214m and a width of 97.5m, Sembcorp Marine said the SSCV will be the biggest crane vessel in the world.

The self-propelled vessel will be powered by a dual-fuel engine burning MGO and LNG, and will have a transit speed of 10 knots. DP3 dynamic positioning, combined with a mooring system, will enable station keeping.

Heerema parent company Heerema Marine Contractors Nederland owns four of the world’s largest crane vessels: SSCV Thialf, Hermod, DCV Balder and Aegir. President and CEO Jan Pieter Klaver said: “The fact that we decided to press on with our plans in these times of low oil prices shows our belief in the offshore oil and gas industry.”

Wong Weng Sun, president and CEO, Sembcorp Marine, added: “We are very pleased that Heerema has chosen Sembcorp Marine as their strategic partner to build the new semi-submersible crane vessel. With our proven track record in building a broad range of semi-submersible vessels for drilling, well-intervention and accommodation purposes, we are confident of building the best vessel to meet Heerema’s exacting requirements.”