The Swiss-based offshore company Allseas Group has ordered a new ship from the Chinese shipyard Guangzhou Shipyard International (GSI). The Finnish company Wärtsilä is supplying the propulsion system for the newbuild.
The ship, which is to be christened the “Grand Tour”, is a semi-submersible heavy transport vessel (HTV). It will be equipped with four Wärtsilä 31 engines with a total output of 24 MW. According to the propulsion manufacturer, this engine type was selected due to its modular design, which enables a significant reduction in maintenance effort and costs. It is also suitable for the use of alternative fuels such as methanol.
“This new HTV strengthens the flexibility of our fleet and our way of implementing projects. We chose the Wärtsilä 31 engine because it is highly efficient, has been designed with the future in mind and enables the transition to low-carbon and CO₂-free fuels. It therefore supports both our operational adaptability and our long-term sustainability goals,” says Sytske de Groot, Manager Naval Architecture at Allseas.
The ship will be equipped with four Wärtsilä 31 engines, each with an SCR system to reduce NOx emissions. Delivery is scheduled for the first quarter of 2028.
According to the manufacturer, the Wärtsilä 31 engine meets the needs of the industry today and prepares operators for the challenges of tomorrow. Its “exceptional” fuel efficiency immediately reduces operating costs, while the ability to convert to sustainable fuels “opens a clear path to decarbonization”.
Wärtsilä has already supplied Allseas with equipment for several vessels, including the engines for Allseas’ purpose-built barge ‘Braveheart’.
Details about the “Grand Tour”
- Semi-submersible hull with a width of 57 m for improved stability and access to shallow draft areas
- 40,000 t cargo capacity
- “Advanced ballast system” with a pumping capacity of 24,000 cubic meters per hour
- Methanol-capable 24 MW propulsion system with the option to switch 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.
Once delivered, 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.
