Chinese semi-submersible ships have usually been employed to move fully- or partially-assembled container cranes around the world, but four are now being marketed by ALP Marine Services of the Netherlands, a company formed in 2010 by former staff members of Dutch heavylift specialist Fairmount Marine. ALP is marketing Zhen Hua 29, Zhen Hua 15, Zhen Hua 22 and Zhen Hua 28 for China’s Shanghai Zhen Hua Shipping Company, which had the ships modified for heavylift work in 2008-9.
Zhen Hua 29 (41,580gt), which was built as the tanker Blue Sky River in 1987 and later became Cook Spirit, crossed the Pacific during the winter, carrying 12 wood chip barges, each measuring 62.2m (204ft) by 16m (52.5ft), for Canada’s Ledcor Marine. The barges, built in China by Wujiazui Shipbuilding Company Limited, will be used to transport wood chips along the Pacific coast of North America under long-term contracts.
