Partners CY Shipping and BigLift Shipping increase their fleet of Heavy Transport Vessels (HTVs) to six vessels, by adding two new HTVs. The first vessel, owned by CY Shipping will be delivered in Q4 2025 and the second vessel, owned by BigLift Shipping, in Q2 2026.
Newbuilding contracts for the two new HTVs have been signed with Jingjiang Nanyang Shipbuilding Co., Ltd, China. The vessels, jointly designed by CY Shipping and BigLift Shipping, are called the BC-Class.
The vessels are designed to transport ultra-large and heavy modular cargoes worldwide, with a focus on reliable service speed, low accelerations and optimized loading and discharge times. Because of the similar frame spacing, depth, ballast and tidal compensation capacity they will be interchangeable with BigLift’s MC-Class vessels BigLift Barentsz and BigLift Baffin, offering even more deck length and stern loading capability.
The overall length of the BC-Class is 180 metres, the beam is 43 metres, and the deck measures 43 by 140 metres, resulting in an impressive fully unobstructed deck space of 6,020 m2. Cargoes can be loaded and discharged over the vessels’ stern or side by ro-ro or skidding. The BC-Class has a depth of 12 metres, a maximum deadweight of 25,000 mt, and the ballast capacity is 12,000 m3/hr. The vessels are not semi-submersible.
James Jung, Director at CY Shipping, says “I’m very proud and excited to strengthen our partnership with BigLift Shipping further. As a modern company, we understand the importance of being ahead of the market requirements, making a difference, and adding value to customers’ requirements.”
Johan Boer, Commercial Director at BigLift Shipping, adds “it’s great to see how an initial idea turns into such a strong partnership. Both companies share many of the same values, and we are pleased to start this newbuilding program together with CY Shipping.”
Since 2019 BigLift Shipping and CY Shipping combine their Heavy Transport Shipping capabilities. The current fleet, comprising four HTVs, is commercially fully operated by BigLift Shipping. The newbuild BC-Class vessels enable the company to offer even more unique transport services with three pairs of identical sister vessels, allowing the company to participate in long-term contracts and single voyages worldwide.
BigLift Shipping, member of the Spliethoff Group, is one of the world’s leading heavy lift shipping companies, specialised in worldwide ocean transportation of ro-ro, heavy lift and project cargoes, with a history dating back to 1973. BigLift strives for innovation, excellence and operational reliability, adhering to high Health, Safety, Environment and Quality standards and operating to strict time schedules.
Within the Spliethoff Group of companies, BigLift Shipping handles all heavy, over-sized and special cargoes and engineered transport solutions. A modern fleet of 4 heavy transport vessels and 21 heavy lift vessels – including the Spliethoff P8-Type and P14-Type heavy lift vessels and the Chung Yang CY-Type heavy transport vessels – can be utilized for this purpose. Additionally, and in close cooperation with sister company Spliethoff, a fleet of over 50 multipurpose vessels is available for large project cargo volumes. All vessels are operated in close cooperation between Spliethoff and BigLift Shipping.
Jingjiang Nanyang Shipbuilding Co., Ltd. is a Chinese-controlled joint venture founded by Nantong Tiannan Shipbuilding Co., Ltd. and Dae Yang Offshore Pte Ltd. The company is located in Jingjiang City on the north bank of the Yangtze River, near Nantong City. The company’s Phase I and Phase II cover an area of 700,000 m2, occupying 1,100 meters of the Yangtze River shoreline, and the Phase III project, which is currently under construction, covers an area of more than 400 acres.
At present, the annual steel processing capacity of the first two phases is 120,000 tons, and the total annual steel processing capacity will reach 200,000 tons after the third phase is put into operation, which can produce 25 ships of various types annually.