The world's largest and most powerful heavy lift ship, Dockwise Vanguard

[Lert]

Owned and operated by the world's largest marine transport company, the Dutch company Dockwise (part of Boskalis), Dockwise Vanguard is the world's largest semi-submersible heavy lift ship.

The ship works by submerging itself partially until only the white of the towers remains above water. It then moves its flat cargo deck measuring 70 by 275 metres (230 by 902 ft) under the cargo, which is then secured in place. The Vanguard then refloats itself, lifting the cargo out of the water.

Submerged, picking up a floating oil rig.

Dockwise Vanguard has a displacement of 93 thousand tons, has a draft of 11 m (36 ft) sailing and up to 31m (102 ft) submerged. It measures 275 m (902 ft) long and has a beam of 79m (259 ft).

Carrying the oil rig.

27000 shaft horsepower drive this monstrous ship along at 14 knots empty, 11 ~ 13 knots loaded. She's operated by a crew of 40.

A shipping ship shipping shipping ships.

The location of the four towers at the extreme ends of the flat deck allow for loads longer or wider that ship ship itself.

Carrying the 114000 gross register ton cruise liner Costa Concordia.

All the numbers I've listed sure make her sound impressive, but just how big is she, really?

Lifting up an Iowa class wouldn't even cause her to break a sweat, and carrying a Yamato is peanuts.

Theoretically, she can pick up and carry a Nimitz class supercarrier, or its sucessor, the Gerald R. Ford class. These ships weigh up to 106 thousand tons for the Nimitz and approx. 100 thousand tons for the Ford, which is just within the 110 thousand metric ton carrying limit for this beast. If need be she can be outfitted with additional towers, allowing her to carry an even heavier load. The four corner pylons also ensure that the two American supercarriers, while longer than the Dockwise Vanguard, can fit. The only problem is that the flight decks on the Nimitz and the Ford are a few meters wider than the distance between the pylons, but I'm not sure the top of the pylons would even reach the flight deck on the supercarriers.

The bridge on Dockwise Vanguard and her captain, Oleg Maryasov.

As a bonus, a video about the recovery of the Costa Concordia:

 

Dockwise's own video about the Vanguard:

 

Boskalis' video on the Vanguard, showing it in operation:

 

[iDuckman]

Amazing.

 

[1Sherman]

I'm surprised that Mighty Ships hasn't done an episode on her.

[Lert]

11 minutes ago, 1Sherman said:

I'm surprised that Mighty Ships hasn't done an episode on her.

They totally should. I do think she counts. That said, I looked the show up and I don't think they're making new eps anymore. The last one was June 2016.

[Akeno017]

But could you raise a Yamato with it?

[Lert]

Just now, Akeno017 said:

But could you raise a Yamato with it?

If it was afloat, yes. Easily. This ship is for picking up floating things.

[MeKanism]

Looks like something a toddler would make out of Duplo blocks

[Akeno017]

Just now, Lert said:

If it was afloat, yes. Easily. This ship is for picking up floating things.

Dammit, we ran out of afloat Yamato about half a century ago..

[Snargfargle]

A ship that can carry an oil rig? "Wow!" doesn't do that justice.

[BBsquid]

As Lert was saying, The US CVN's are a far cry from the biggest ships in the world. While the CVNs are bigger than we were, we were no small spud when I served on New Jersey. Or so I thought until we went into the Gulf in '89. There were oil tankers and bulk cargo ships that made us look like a bathtub toy.

[WolfofWarship]

It's like magic! That's very cool! 

[Jim_Byrnes]

Wow! That's impressive! 

[Chobittsu]

Arise, fallen thread of old!

[iDuckman]

This necro I don't mind.  I forgot how huge the thing is!

 

[Chobittsu]

@Lert, when I asked you to "Hold my wine", I didn't mean a dozen tanker ships full of it

[Lert]

1 minute ago, Chobittsu said:

@Lert, when I asked you to "Hold my wine", I didn't mean a dozen tanker ships full of it

I've known you for some time now. Less would just not do.

[Eisennagel]

 

I remember this one.  This is built by Hyundai Heavy Industries to Dockwise's specifications and designs.  Still is the biggest semi-submersible in the world.  

 

The next two are Xin Guang Hua (over 98,000 DWT) which was built in Guangzhou, and the MV Blue Marlin (76,000 DWT), which was built in Taiwan.   The MV Blue Marlin is what the US Navy hires to do things like carry stricken US destroyers and broken down LCS.    MV Blue Marlin is also operated by Dockwise.  

[XXRed_DawnXX]

WOW... that is big 

[Eisennagel]

 

Appreciate it or not, we are living in a golden age of ship gigantism.   There are tanks and freighters out there at 300,000 to over 400,000 tons, and cruise liners at over 200,000 tons.  

 

 

[Chobittsu]

2 hours ago, Eisennagel said:

Appreciate it or not, we are living in a golden age of ship gigantism.   There are tanks and freighters out there at 300,000 to over 400,000 tons, and cruise liners at over 200,000 tons. 

 

Thicc.

[Grand_Commander_LuXun]

That's a lot of superstructure. Tower blocks. Yummy food for IFHE.

[Eisennagel]

 

 

Pics of other lifters in action.  

 

These are oil rigs being delivered from China to the customers in Europe to be deployed in the North Atlantic.

 

 

 

MV Blue Merlin now as Dockwise Blue Merlin.

 

 

Delivering sea based X-Band Radar to Alaska on a DoD contract.

 

 

 

[YWNGG9820]

very big!!!!!

[Ducc_ducc]

This looks like the ship I use to transport my collection of models.

[Eisennagel]

8 hours ago, megadeux said:

This looks like the ship I use to transport my collection of models.

 

I suppose this was it.