Jumbo inks letter of intent with CMIH for LNG powered offshore construction vessel

Netherlands-based marine heavy lift company Jumbo signed a letter of intent with China Merchants Industry Holdings for engineering and construction of a new DP2 heavy lift crane vessel, which is estimated to be delivered in the first quarter of 2020.    Shipyards group China Merchants Industry Holdings (CMIH) and Netherlands-based maritime heavy lift company Jumbo have signed a letter of intent for CMIH to provide detailed engineering and construction of a new DP2 heavy lift crane vessel (HLCV), the companies confirmed Friday.
   “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,” Jumbo Managing Director Michael Kahn explained in a statement.
   The newly developed HLCV, estimated to be delivered in the first quarter of 2020, has been designed with Ulstein Design and Solutions to combine economic and technical efficiency with high quality and safety features, the firms said in a statement.
   Environmental considerations and improved fuel efficiency elements have also been factored into the HLCV design, they also said, as the vessel will be powered by dual fuel engines and will have the ability to run on liquefied natural gas.
   The hull will be outfitted with an inverted ship’s bow designed by Ulstein Group to improve handling in rough seas, and to lower fuel consumption by causing less hydrodynamic drag, enabling a more consistent transit speed and offshore workability in severe weather conditions.
   The vessel length is designed for 185 meters (607 feet) with a width of 36 meters (118 feet), which would make it the largest HLCV with an inverted ship’s bow ever designed by Ulstein.
   Additionally, the design of the new HLCV includes two offshore mast cranes with a lifting capacity of 2,200 and 400 tons, respectively, and with water depth ratings of 3,000 meters (9,842 feet) each.
   The cranes, which are being designed and constructed by Huisman Equipment B.V., are expected to enable Jumbo to meet customer demands for lifting capacities beyond what the company’s offshore division can currently offer.
   “With this vessel, Jumbo will service the new economic era of the global offshore energy industry by providing smarter and more cost efficient solutions,” the company said in a statement.