Guangzhou Shipyard International (GSI) in China has started construction of Allseas’ semi-submersible heavy lift vessel (HLV) Grand Tour.
The 230-metre HLV is scheduled for delivery in the first quarter of 2028. It will move offshore structures from their fabrication locations to the places where they will be installed.
Grand Tour has been designed to fit inside the bow slot of Allseas’ offshore construction vessel Pioneering Spirit. The arrangement will allow structures to be transferred directly between the vessels before single-lift installation.
The new vessel will measure 57 metres wide and will have a 180- by 57-metre cargo deck covering 10,260 square metres. Its deadweight will be 73,000 at an 11-metre draught, while the moulded depth will be 14.8 metres.
Grand Tour will also have a 24MW propulsion system prepared for methanol and capable of transitioning to e-methanol.
Allseas plans to deploy Grand Tour for TenneT’s 2GW offshore wind programme. The vessel will carry converter platforms from fabrication yards in Asia and Europe to sites in the Dutch and German North Sea for installation by Pioneering Spirit.
