Jumbo Inks LoI for LNG-Powered Heavy Lift Vessel

Heavy lift shipping company Jumbo has today signed a Letter of Intent (LOI) with China Merchants Industry Holdings (CMIH) for the engineering and construction of a new DP2 heavy lift crane vessel.

The newly developed HLCV will be powered by dual-fuel engines and has the ability to run on natural gas (LNG), Jumbo said. The vessel has been designed together with Ulstein Design and Solutions B.V. Jumbo’s Basis of Design.

“Despite the current offshore climate, we are committing to this industry long term. Signing this Letter of Intent alongside CMIH, with their partnering mentality, is a key milestone for Jumbo’s offshore division to further step-up, scale-up and diversify into the global offshore energy market,” Michael Kahn, Managing Director of Jumbo said.

The ship’s hull will be outfitted with an X-BOW®, the objective being a more consistent transit speed and offshore workability in severe weather conditions. With a vessel length of 185 metres and a width of 36 metres the HLCV will be the world’s largest X-BOW® vessel, according to Jumbo.

In addition, the newbuilding will be equipped with two offshore mast cranes with a lifting capacity of 2,200 and 400 tonnes respectively and with water depth ratings of 3,000m each.

The HLCV will also feature a moon pool and is flex-lay prepared.

Jumbo said that it intends to employ the new vessel for the installation of wind turbine foundations,  installation/decommissioning of fixed oil and gas facilities in shallow waters, installation of moorings systems and floating structures in deeper waters and that of subsea structures, foundations and (flex-lay) tie-backs.

Jumbo expects to take delivery of the vessel in the first quarter of 2020.