Jumbo completes 1,800 tonne series

Jumbo's new J-1800-class heavy lift vessel, Jumbo Jubilee, has been launched. The event took place at the Damen shipyard in Galatz, Romania, in November. The ship was named in honour of the company's 40th anniversary year and the 60th anniversary of its agent Kahn Scheepvaart.

Following the ceremony, Jumbo Jubilee was floated from the building dock to the quay, where finishing touches will be carried out over the coming months. Delivery is due in the second quarter of 2009.

It is the last in a series of four J-class vessels. Sister ship Fairplayer has just been completed at the Huisman yard in Schiedam, the Netherlands.

Both vessels include two cranes, which can lift 900 tonnes at 25 m. Other features include a 20,000 cubic metre hold and a 3,100 square metre deck area.

"These ships are very attractive to engineering contractors in the petrochemical and offshore Industry. The Fairplayer is, like the Jumbo Javelin, fitted with an advanced DP2 system with retractable thrusters to make her suitable for offshore operations. Transportation and installation can be executed by the same vessel," said Jumbo.

The ship's accommodation is placed at starboard to cater for long loads, up to 150 m on the port side. In addition, movable tweendeck hatch covers in the lower hold can be placed at different levels to suit the cargo height.

The J-class vessels can also sail with open hatch covers. "With this smart ship design, these vessels sail at a speed of 17 knots and can quickly be mobilised to any place in the world," added the company.