BigLift, Rolldock Shipping Pull the Plug on Joint Venture

Amsterdam-based heavy-lift specialist BigLift Shipping has decided to end its cooperation with compatriot Rolldock Shipping in the joint venture BigRoll Shipping as of January 1st, 2018, the company said.

The reason behind the decision was not disclosed.

However, BigLift pointed out that the ongoing contracts and tenders of BigRoll Shipping will still be executed in cooperation with Rolldock Shipping.

The joint venture was formed in May 2013, when the duo announced the construction of two MC-Class Module Carriers for the transportation of ultra large and heavy modular cargoes by sea.

BigRoll concentrates on the offshore and onshore oil and gas and renewables markets, power generation, container cranes and shipyard industries. The JV’s fleet is comprised of four vessels BigRoll Barentsz, BigRoll Bering, BigRoll Baffin and BigRoll Beaufort, with the final one yet to be delivered from the shipyard.

As informed, as of the beginning of next year, the two heavy transport vessels, BigLift Barentsz and BigLift Baffin, will be added to the BigLift’s fleet.

“The broader range of vessels will enable BigLift to offer clients even better, customized shipping solutions of ever larger and heavier cargoes, both in large projects as in single shipments,” the company added.

Now to be renamed BigLift Barentsz and BigLift Baffin are two identical module carriers featuring Finnish/Swedish 1A ice class, powering and steering redundancy and a strong, flush deck of 125 x 42 metres, low fuel consumption and reduced vessel motions, as described by BigLift.

The MC Class vessels are able to handle large module shipments, cranes and other voluminous cargo.