Boskalis’ 39,379gt/2012 built Bokalift 1 (formerly the Finesse) has been converted from a heavy transport vessel to a heavy lift vessel for deployment during the building of offshore wind farms, the installation and decommissioning of oil and gas platforms and salvage projects. Due to her huge empty deck space measuring 165m by 43m and the mid-ship, 3,000t capacity revolving Huisman Crane, the Bokalift 1 can double the usual load of existing crane and transport vessels. A DP2 system is also installed. The vessel was converted at the Keppel shipyard in Singapore, the Huisman crane was installed in China and the intensive FMEA tests took place in Cape Town. During the conversion, the large ballast tanks, which made the heavy transport vessel semi-submersible, were converted accommodate the requirements of diesel generators and switchboards.

Falcon Global, a subsidiary of U.S.-based SEACOR Marine Holdings, and Fred. Olsen Windcarrier, have announced that they have reached a co-operation agreement to offer a full complement of offshore wind installation and feeder vessels for the United States offshore wind market. The Falcon Global fleet consists of one of the largest existing U.S. flag and Jones Act compliant heavy lift ships in the United States. The combination of Fred. Olsen Windcarrier’s fleet of highly sophisticated Wind Turbine Installation vessels and the Falcon Global fleet will create a marine fleet capable of installing the largest turbines in the market. The agreement aims to shorten the installation period and reduce costs associated with the budding domestic offshore renewable energy market.