Snap shots
Construction update BC-Class
In the previous edition of BigNews, we announced that in 2026, BigLift Shipping, in partnership with CY Shipping, will expand its fleet by adding two new Heavy Transport Vessels (HTVs). This strategic development increases the combined fleet to six vessels, enhancing our capacity to meet the growing demands of the heavy transport market. The two new vessels, CY Frontier and BigLift Pioneer, will join the jointly operated commercial fleet, which already includes two MC-Class vessels and two CY Interocean-Class vessels. Throughout 2024, the vessel design was defined. Steel cutting took commenced early this year, on 15 January, and production of the first vessel, CY Frontier, is fully underway. At present, work is ongoing on 73 of the 98 blocks, and we anticipate that block assembly in the dry dock will begin around September–October this year.
As for the BigLift Pioneer, all steel has been delivered to the yard, and steel cutting and production are expected to commence shortly. Delivery of both vessels is planned for 2026.
BigLift delivers buoyancy tanks from China to Indonesia
On short notice, BigLift Shipping was tasked with transporting eight newly built buoyancy tanks from China to Indonesia. While this may sound like routine business, in the world of heavy lift transport, there is no such thing as a ‘standard shipment’.
The tanks arrived without cradles, lifting points, or sea fastening provisions. Within a tight timeframe, BigLift’s in-house engineering team designed and delivered custom-built saddles and a secure sea fastening solution.
Further complexity arose when last-minute design changes to some of the tanks introduced a risk of unstable lifting. Thanks to close collaboration between BigLift and the Client, this challenge was swiftly identified and resolved.
Adding to the uniqueness of the project, BigLift’s Prinsengracht became the first foreign vessel ever to call at the Chinese port of Qinzhou. With the client’s support, the cargo was safely loaded, secured, and successfully delivered to its destination in Indonesia.