Recently, Dalian Shipbuilding Offshore Co. (DSOC), a Chinese shipbuilder, officially signed a construction contract with Biglift, a subsidiary of Spliethoff, a century-old Dutch multi-purpose shipping giant, for 1+1 18,000 DWT multipurpose heavy-lift vessels.
This 18,000 DWT multi-purpose heavy-lift vessel project marks DSOC’s first foray into the high-end, multi-functional heavy-lift vessel sector, marking a significant breakthrough for the shipbuilder in the field of multi-functional heavy-lift vessels.
The vessel has an overall length of 155.97 meters, a beam of 29.00 meters, and a design draft of 7.0 meters. It is equipped with two heavy-duty cranes, each with a lifting capacity of 1,100 tons. and can achieve 2,200-ton super-heavy cargo lifting through dual-crane coordination. Equipped with a powerful anti-heeling system enabling rapid load adjustment under special conditions, the vessel delivers outstanding seaworthiness and loading performance. It is perfectly suited for transporting heavy equipment to major global ports and polar regions, possessing global and polar navigation capabilities.
Additionally, the vessel utilizes high-strength S690Q steel and 100mm ultra-thick special plates, setting a new benchmark for high-end ice-strengthened heavy-lift vessels. Classed by Lloyd’s Register (LR), the vessel is scheduled for delivery and operation in mid-2028.
The successful signing of this contract marks another milestone for DSOC in its years of dedicated focus on high-end marine and offshore engineering products, establishing a long-term strategic partnership with a globally renowned multi-purpose vessel operator.
Moving forward, DSOC will actively expand into the multi-purpose heavy-lift vessel market, developing technical and construction standards in this field. This initiative will create strategic synergies with the company’s other core businesses, optimizing its product portfolio.
Founded in Amsterdam, Netherlands in 1921, Spliethoff Group is a century-old integrated shipping conglomerate specializing in the investment, construction, and operation of multipurpose vessels, heavy-lift ships, and offshore engineering vessels. As one of the world’s largest operators of multipurpose fleets, the company remains committed to delivering efficient and reliable global heavy-lift logistics solutions.