BBC Chartering has taken delivery of its new heavy lift vessel 'BBC Amber', built at Jiangzhou Shipyard, China.
The 4,360DWT heavy lifter is part of BBC's "new wave" fleet renewal and expansion program, offering lifting capacity up to 800 tonnes. 'BBC Amber' is one of 14 new vessels planned to commence service for BBC Chartering over the next two years. Each vessel will have a superstructure located on the forecastle, providing an unobstructed view, and a universal cargo hold that allows shippers to make flexible use of weather-protected space measuring 83 metres length and 19 metres in width. One more vessel in the series, 'BBC Amethyst', is expected to be delivered in 2011.
This June the company took delivery of 'BBC Fuji', a 9,300DWT heavy lifter with a lifting capacity up to 700 tonnes, and the second of eight sister vessels following 'BBC Everest'. In addition, 'BBC Bangkok' was put into service this August following delivery from Dalian, China. This multipurpose vessel is also the second of eight vessels, following 'BBC Bergen', which joined the BBC fleet in January. 'BBC Bangkok' is an 8,000DWT vessel with two 80-tonne lifting gears.