Heavy-lift Vessel

Heavy-lift Vessel

 

Heavy-lift Vessel

Definition of a Heavy-lift Vessel

A Heavy Lift Vessel is designed to carry extremely large and/or heavy items that cannot be transported in or on other vessels. Semi -submersible types are designed to transport very large floating objects, including damaged ships. Ro-Ro heavy lift vessels also exist.

Heavy lift vessels have extremely large cargo decks, unusual deck and pilothouse configurations to accommodate unusual types of cargo and very high-capacity on-deck cranes Size or Length varies by vessel and type of cargo. There are different types of heavy-lift vessels built specific for a purpose. A large heavy lift vessel can measure 584.6ft (178.20m) in length and 137.8ft (42m) in width.

Heavy-lift carriers can transport high-value, complex cargoes such as: transformers, locomotives, rockets, crushers, semi-submersible rigs, jack-ups, oil platforms, bridge spans, TLPs (tension leg platforms) and SPAR buoys, etc.

Cargo is loaded by onboard cranes or shore-based cranes. Conventional loading is the over-the top Lo-Lo (Load-on/Load-off). Some heavy lift vessels also have Ro-Ro capabilities.

Semi- submersible Heavy-lift vessel

A semi-submersible is a watercraft that can put much of its bulk underwater. With a relatively small area above the water's surface, the semisubmersible is less affected by the waves than a normal ship, but must be trimmed continuously. Unlike a submarine, such a ship is never entirely underwater.

A semisubmersible heavy-lift ship, also known as a "flo/flo" (for float-on/float-off), has a long and low well deck between a forward pilot house and an after machinery space. In superficial appearance, it is somewhat similar to a dry bulk carrier or some forms of oil tanker. Its ballast Tanks can be flooded to lower the well deck below the water's surface, allowing oil platforms, other vessels, or other floating cargo to be moved into position for loading. The tanks are then pumped out, and the well deck rises to shoulder the load. To balance the cargo, the various tanks can be pumped unevenly.

The flo/flo industry's largest customer base is the oil industry. Dock wise have transported many oil drilling rigs (the flo/flo ships can carry the rigs from their construction site to a drilling site at roughly three to four times the speed of a self-deploying rig). Rapid deployment of the rig to the drilling site can translate

into major savings to the oil industry. They also transport other outsized cargo and yachts.

Example -Heavy-lift Vessel MV Blue Marlin

MV Blue Marlin

MV Blue Marlin

The heavy transport vessel Blue Marlin is an open-deck vessel and able to carry fully integrated ultra-heavy and large floating production and drilling platforms up to 73,000 tons.

The Blue Marlin enables oil companies to build fully integrated units anywhere in the world and transport them to the final offshore destination, in order to limit hook up and commissioning at the offshore location.

The vessel can be semi-submerged to load floating cargos like rigs even other ships and submarines.

The Blue Marlin has an open cargo deck of 63 meters at portside and 164.20 meters at starboard. By moving the portside buoyancy casing the cargo stowage possibilities can be increased.