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.

Institute of Marine Research (IMR) of Norway took delivery of the 9,145gt/2018 built Oceanographic Icebreaker Vessel Kronprins Haakon on 5th April from Fincantieri’s Norwegian yard of Vard Langsten. After the completion of the building process at Fincantieri’s Integrated shipyard at Riva Trigoso and Muggiano, the vessel sailed to Norway for final testing, fitting out and delivery. The ship is over 100m long, has a beam of 21m, a speed of 15 knots and she can accommodate 55 people in 38 cabins, namely research personnel, students and crew.

Saipem has entered into an agreement to acquire the Ultra Deepwater Rigid and Flexible Pipelay, 3,000t Heavy Lift and Construction Vessel Lewek Constellation. Completed in 2013, the 48,949gt Constellation will be marketed in all geographic areas including the Gulf of Mexico and the North and Norwegian Seas.

Sentinel Marine of Aberdeen has taken delivery of the latest in its fleet of state-of-the-art multi-role emergency response and rescue vessels (ERRVs). The British-flagged 62m vessel is the seventh of Sentinel Marine’s new breed of ERRVs to enter operation, with a further two currently under construction and due to enter service later this year. The 2,173gt/2018 built Biscay Sentinel was delivered at the Cosco Guangzhou shipyard in China in March and was expected to arrive in Aberdeen in early May.

Toisa Limited, the troubled shipping company, and 23 of its affiliated companies filed for relief under chapter 11 of the Bankruptcy Code with a debt of more than $1 billion on 29th January. Shipbroking services provider Clarksons has been employed to sell the company’s tanker and bulker fleets, as well as to assign the contracts for the purchase of six tankers under construction. Toisa has a fleet of thirteen tankers, seven bulkers and 26 offshore oil service vessels. The company’s offshore fleet is currently laid up (above).