Heavy-lift ship

Empty semi-submersible in the harbour of Valetta (Malta)

A heavy lift ship is a vessel designed to move loads that cannot be handled by normally equipped ships. They are of two types: semi-submersibles capable of lifting another ship out of the water and transporting it; and vessels that augment unloading facilities at inadequately equipped ports.

History

In the 1920s the Bremen based shipping company DDG Hansa saw a growing demand of shipments of assembled locomotives to British India. That leads to the construction of the worlds first heavy lift vessel MV "Lichtenfels" with a heavy lift derrick capable of lifting 120mt. After WWII DDG Hansa becomes the world largest heavy lift shipping company. In terms of lifting capacity it reached its peak in 1978 with refitting the Japanese build Bulker MV "Trifels" with two 320mt Stülcken derricks. Shortly after that, in 1980, DDG went bankrupt. With that only the dutch shipping companies Jumbo and Mommouet (renamed Biglift) were left as heavy lift shipping specialists.

In the late 1990s new and old heavy lift player started a massive buildup of the worlds heavy lift fleet. In terms of lifting capacity and reputaion the netherlands heavy lift specialist Jumbo Shipping is the todays world market leader.

See also

• Semi-submersible heavy-lift ship

External references

• Description of military heavy lift ships
• Sea giants photos