Boka Vanguard – Semi-submersible Heavy Lift Ship

Boka Vanguard is a uniquely designed and capable semi-submersible heavy lift ship capable of loading project cargoes of up to 110,000 tonnes. She was initially designed to move oil and gas facilities across the globe but as can be seen in the picture, she offers additional flexibility as an emergency drydock.

Built by Hyundai Heavy Industries, South Korea

Owned and operated by Dockwise Shipping B.V.

LOA 275m

Beam 79m

Displacement 91,238 tonnes

Draft in ballast 11m

Draft when submerged 31m

Installed power 27,000kW

Propulsion: twin screw, 2 retractable azimuth thrusters, 1 bow thruster

Speed 14 knots in ballast, 11-13 knots when loaded

Previous name Dockwise Vanguard

 

Dockwise Vanguard under her original name and colours – Courtesy MarineTraffic .com

In 2019 the vessel was chartered by Carnival Cruise Lines at short notice to facilitate repairs to Carnival Vista’s azipod system. This occurred at a time when the facilities at Grand Bahama Shipyard were unavailable. She was also lined up at one point to carrying the Costa Concordia following that vessel’s salvage off the coast of Italy, however the vessel was ultimately towed, supported by massive buoyancy chambers to the port of Genoa for breaking.

Established in 1910 to specialize in dredging and coastal defence and land reclamation, Royal Boskalis Westminster N.V. acquired compatriot Dutch shipowner Dockwise in 2013 and in 2018 the brands were merged under the Boskalis name. In March this year, the largest shareholder of Boskalis, an investment company named HAL Holding (whose history lies with Holland America Line) announced a takeover of Boskalis with an all cash offer €4.2 billion (approximately $4.6 billion) to take the company from publicly listed to private. The transaction has subsequently been finalized.

 

Featured Image Courtesy: Boskalis