Top 10 Largest Crane Ships: Strong oceangoing vessels equipped with enormous cranes to lift huge loads are known as crane ships. Heavy lift crane vessels can be regular crane vessels, semi-submersibles, or sheerlegs, and are mostly utilized for construction sites and high seas salvage operations.
Ten large crane ships that are utilized for various offshore activities and are well-known worldwide for their vast size and load-carrying capacities have been discussed in this article.
Top 10 Largest Crane Ships for Offshore Operations
1. SSCV Sleipnir
With its two 10,000-ton capacity revolving cranes, SSCV Sleipnir now holds the title of Biggest Crane Ship. It takes its name from Odin’s fabled eight-legged horse. The Heerema Marine Contractors-operated crane is the first of its kind to run on LNG fuel.
Eight thrusters on board the ship enable it to travel at a speed of more than twelve knots. The crane achieved a record lift of 15,300 tons in its first project of 2019 at the Leviathan Gas field in Israel, working for Noble Energy.
2. SSCV Thialf
The big lift crane ship SSCV Thailf is utilized for various offshore construction projects.
The two cranes on board the deepwater construction vessel have a load lifting capacity of about 14,200 tons.
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3. Saipem 7000
The semi-submersible crane vessel Saipem 7000 is equipped with two revolving cranes, each capable of accommodating 7000 tons.
The crane vessel has the best thrusting mechanism and ballasting technology available. The dynamically positioned vessel can accommodate around 700 crew members in accommodations.
4. Zhen Hua 30
Currently flying the Chinese flag is the crane ship ZHEN HUA 30. This enormous crane ship, measuring 297.6 meters in length and 58 meters in beam, was constructed 27 years ago. It has a 7000-ton rotating capacity and a 12,000-ton lifting capacity.
5. Hyundai-10000
The Hyundai-10000 crane vessel can lift up to 10,000 tonnes, as its name implies. The vessel, which HHI constructed in 2015 and measures 182 meters in length, 70 meters in width, and 11 meters in depth, is now the largest shear-leg floating crane in the world.
6. Svanen
With a total lifting capability of 8700 tonnes, Svanen is one of the earlier crane vessels that the European Storebaelt Group launched in 1990. It was constructed to aid in the completion of Denmark’s Great Belt’s 7 km west bridge.
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Significant improvements were made in 1994 and 1995 to raise the maximum lifting capability from 6500 tons to the current 8,700 tons. The yacht is 102 meters long, 72 meters wide, and has an 11-meter draft. It sails at a speed of 7 knots.
7. Balder
This enormous crane ship, which was constructed in 1978 and is still operational, is regarded as the world’s first submerged crane vessel. It can handle 6200 tonnes. Its 154 m overall length and 106 m width allow it to accommodate about 390 crew members.
8. Aegir
Aegir, a second state-of-the-art Heerema crane ship, is among the quickest heavy lift crane ships in the world and can operate in any depth of water. When the ship was modified in March 2021, its lifting capacity—which had been 4000 metric tons at first—was raised to 5000 tons.
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9. Hercules the Asian
Launched in 2015, the Asian Hercules III is regarded as one of the world’s largest and most versatile heavy-lift sheerlegs. The vessel is 106 meters in length and 52 meters in width, with a minimum hook height of 120 meters.
This self-propelled sheerleg crane ship is capable of lifting 5,000 tons.
10. Seven Borealis
This 182 m long monohull heavy lift ship was built in 2009 by Sembawang Shipyard Pte. Ltd. in Singapore and is owned and operated by Subsea7. In 2012, the ship underwent modifications to enhance pipelaying capability. With a 5000 t lifting capacity, its revolving crane can accommodate up to 400 crew members on board.
