Allseas chooses Vuyk design for new heavy transport vessel
Offshore industry leader Allseas selected Dutch maritime design house Vuyk Engineering to design its new semi-submersible Heavy Transport Vessel (HTV) ‘Grand Tour’. Purpose-designed to support seamless topsides transfers to ‘Pioneering Spirit’, the vessel represents a major step forward in integrated offshore transport and installation solutions. Built at Guangzhou Shipyard International, the new HTV is scheduled for entering service in Q1 2028.
The vessel is optimised by Vuyk to carry payloads of up to 60,000 tonnes. But what makes the ‘Grand Tour’ unique, is that she is designed to load and transport topsides of up to 40,000 tonnes at the stern and too fit precisely into Pioneering Spirit’s bow slot, enabling safe and efficient offshore handovers. Its semi-submersible hull, with a 57-metre beam, ensures enhanced stability and shallow-draft access to global fabrication yards.
Vuyk brings a proven track record in the design of semi-submersible transport vessels and extensive experience in integrating alternative fuel technologies aimed at reducing emissions. The new HTV reflects Vuyk’s commitment to delivering future-ready solutions that meet the evolving demands of the offshore energy market.
“Our relationship with Allseas spans decades”, says Floris Toetenel, Director at Vuyk Engineering, “and we’re proud to have continued that legacy with the concept and basic design of this new Heavy Transport Vessel. Having played a significant role in the engineering of Pioneering Spirit, we understand the operational demands and ambitions that drive Allseas. The ‘Grand Tour’ builds on our expertise in semi-submersible transport vessels and alternative fuels, and reflects our shared commitment to innovation, efficiency, and sustainability in offshore transport and installation.”
Key design features include:
- 180 x 57 m cargo deck designed for direct skidding, roll-on/roll-off, and float-on/float-off operations;
- Methanol-ready propulsion system;
- Air lubrication system and podded propulsion to reduce fuel consumption;
- High-capacity ballast system for precise load transfers.
Main dimensions of the vessel are:
Loa 229.9 m
Beam (moulded) 57.0 m
Depth (moulded) 14.8 m
Draught (summer) 11.1 m
Positioning DP2
Propulsion thrusters 4 x 3,500 kW
Retractable thruster 1 x 2,600 kW
Tunnel thrusters 2 x 2,000 kW
Deadweight (11 m) 73,000 t
Deck space 10,260 m2
Transport capacity 40,000 t at the stern
Heavier cargos (up to 60,000 t) possible depending on optimal load spreading:
60,000 t @ 20 m COG above keel
49,000 t @ 30 m COG above keel
43,500 t @ 40 m COG above keel
38,500 t @ 45 m COG above keel
Source: VUYK Engineering
