The Swiss-registered shipping company Allseas is expanding its fleet with a new semi-submersible heavy-lift vessel with a capacity of 40,000 tonnes to transport the largest offshore structures.
Allseas’ next newbuilding already has a name: “Grand Tour”. Its future role is also already defined. The “Grand Tour” is to be deployed primarily alongside the world’s largest heavy-lift installation vessel. The concept was developed specifically for integration with the “Pioneering Spirit”, enabling seamless transfer of massive offshore structures.
Allseas has signed a construction contract with the Chinese shipyard Guangzhou Shipyard International (GSI), with delivery scheduled for the first quarter of 2028. The new vessel will have a loading capacity of 40,000 tonnes and, according to official information, is designed to “transport the world’s largest offshore structures across the oceans and easily transfer them to the Pioneering Spirit for installation”.
The reason for this is that the “Grand Tour” is designed to fit exactly into the large “bay” of the “Pioneering Spirit”. This integration is intended to streamline the offshore installation process and provide customers with a one-stop solution for the transportation and installation of large structures manufactured far away from the installation site. The specific focus is on the European offshore market, where the company aims to strengthen its position “as an important player”, according to the Allseas statement.
Details of the new build:
- Semi-submersible hull with a width of 57 m for improved stability and access to shallow draftss
- 40,000 t loading capacity
- “Advanced ballast system” with a pumping capacity of 24,000 cubic meters per hour – the equivalent of 10 Olympic swimming pools – “enables safe and precise cargo handling”
- Methanol-capable 24 MW drive system with the option of switching to e-methanol
- Air lubrication system under the hull and pod propulsion to “reduce drag, improve transit efficiency and reduce fuel consumption”
- 180 x 57 m cargo deck designed for direct skidding, RoRo and float-on/float-off operations
For example, the “Grand Tour” will play a key role in the implementation of TenneT’s 2 GW offshore wind program, which aims to supply 28 gigawatts of offshore wind energy to European households and companies by 2032. The newbuild will transport large converter stations from production yards in Asia and Europe to installation sites in the Dutch and German North Sea, where the “Pioneering Spirit” will carry out the installation in a single hub.
The fleet of the shipping company, which was founded in 1985, now includes ten specialized vessels. Two newbuildings were already ordered for the Allseas fleet in May, and now a further order has been placed. “This expansion of our fleet is more than just an increase in size – it is a strategic investment that will enhance our ability to provide fully integrated transportation and installation (T&I) solutions for some of the world’s most ambitious offshore energy projects,” said Project Manager Pieter Kambier. “By handling transport and installation in-house, Allseas can reduce risk, optimize schedules and provide clients with unmatched reliability in the delivery of complex offshore infrastructure.”
“Pioneering Spirit” – a record-breaking vessel
With dimensions of 403,342 GT, the 382 m long and 124 m wide special ship “Pioneering Spirit” is the largest self-propelled vessel in the world. It is powered by eight MAN engines with 94,460 kW. The construction costs are said to have amounted to 3 billion dollars.
“Pioneering Spirit” has a capacity of 48,000 tons, which is lifted by a total of eight horizontal lifting arms mounted on rails. An additional 20,000 tons will be lifted by two stern cranes. In addition, a crane with a capacity of 5,000 tons is mounted on the port side. There is a 122 m long and 59 m wide opening at the bow, which enables the ship to move around a platform. Projects with up to 24,000 tons have already been completed in the past.
