Smit to build 5,000 tonne heavy lifter

Netherlands-based offshore lifting and salvage specialist Smit will order its first new heavy lift sheerleg vessel in more than 30 years.

The 5,000 tonne capacity Asian Hercules III will be owned and operated by Asian Lift, a Smit joint venture with Keppel. Principal target markets are offshore oil and gas and marine project contracting in South East Asia. It will also be available for work worldwide.

Asian Hercules III will continue a trend towards larger sheerlegs. Asian Hercules lifts 1,600 tonnes and has a 160 m reach. Asian Hercules II lifts 3,000 tonnes and has a reach of 172 m. The new sheerlegs will have a reach of at least 172 m with the long boom, Smit said.

Following its construction at the Keppel Nantong yard in China, the new vessel will enter service in the third quarter of 2013.

The announcement comes as part of the Boskalis Smit Corporate Business Plan a year after the two companies merged. Following the merger there has been more emphasis on the company as a main contractor for marine projects.