Recently, the heavy-lift vessel “Huarui Long” has successfully completed the long-distance transport of a 52,033-ton Floating Production, Storage, and Offloading (FPSO) unit from Singapore to Denmark, setting a new record for the heaviest single-cargo shipment by sea in Asia.
The FPSO measures 275 meters in length and 53 meters in width. Due to the massive scale of the cargo, the clearance between the FPSO and the transport vessel’s hull was merely 3.5 meters on each side, making the loading operation highly complex. On January 28, the project team lowered the transport vessel to a depth of 22.5 meters at the Singapore anchorage, successfully positioning the FPSO with millimeter precision.
The voyage covered approximately 8,921 nautical miles. With the cargo loaded, the vessel’s air draft reached 68.3 meters, and its beam widened to 77.7 meters—both exceeding standard Suez Canal navigational limits. After extensive consultation and obtaining a special passage permit, the vessel completed the transit under the guidance of pilots and tugboat escorts.
Upon arrival in Denmark, the operations team braved strong winds and freezing temperatures to complete preparatory work, including unmooring and commissioning. On March 27, the Huarui Long submerged to a depth of 23 meters, allowing for the smooth discharge of the FPSO. The entire operation was executed safely and efficiently.
Operated by the Guangzhou Salvage Bureau, the “Huarui Long” is an 80,000-ton semi-submersible salvage and engineering vessel. It is Asia’s first new-generation semi-submersible featuring a four-island design without a conventional bow superstructure. Built at the China Merchants Industry Haimen Base in Jiangsu, the 252-meter-long vessel was delivered in 2022.