Global Maritime surveys ‘world’s second largest’ semi-sub heavy lifter

February 10, 2017

Global Maritime Consultancy & Engineering, a provider of offshore marine warranty, dynamic positioning and engineering services, has completed a suitability survey for the world’s second largest semi-submersible heavy-lift vessel, the ‘Xin Guang Hua’.

For the survey, done in advance of the vessel’s maiden voyage, Global Maritime carried out an independent assessment of all aspects of the vessel’s condition.

The Xin Guang Hua was built by Guangzhou Shipyard International Company and is owned by Cosco Shipping. The vessel will serve the Upper Zakum 750 project in Abu Dhabi where Global Maritime is also the Marine Warranty Surveyor to the field. In addition to the suitability survey, Global Maritime also performed the vessel’s first float-on operation in Tianjin, China.

David Sutton, CEO of Global Maritime Consultancy & Engineering, said: “Whether it be its length, heavy lift capabilities, tank capacities, advanced on-board systems or diesel-electric propulsion system, the Xin Guang Hua is a significant engineering accomplishment.

He continued: “We were therefore delighted to provide a comprehensive assessment of all aspects of this complex vessel and to meet the understandably high standards set by the client.”

The Xin Guang Hua has an overall length of 255 meters and a breadth of 68 meters. The length between perpendiculars is 250.2 meters, loaded draft is 10 meters and hull depth is 14.5 meters. The vessel features a large open deck measuring 208.4 meters in length and 68 meters in breadth and has a lift/transportation capacity of 98,000 tons.

According to Global Maritime, the vessel can handle both stern and side loading and will have a deck submerging capacity of 16 meters, which will enable it to carry large floating structures. The vessel is equipped with a diesel-electric propulsion system providing a power output of 10,500kW.

Upper Zakum is the second largest offshore oilfield and fourth largest oilfield in the world, and is owned by Zakum Development Company (ZADCO), a joint venture comprising of ADNOC (60%) acting as the operator, ExxonMobil (28%) and Japan Oil Development Company (Jodco-12%).