Dutch heavylift shipping company Jumbo is moving ahead with another major fleet e pansion after signing a newbuilding agreement in China for two advanced multipurpose heavylift vessels.
The Rotterdam-based operator confirmed it has partnered with Chinese manufacturer and shipbuilder Dajin Heavy Industry for the construction of two 25,000 dwt vessels in a deal valued at around $156 million. Delivery of the ships is scheduled for 2028 and 2029.
The new vessels are being designed to support a growing range of offshore wind, heavy industrial transport, and deepsea engineering projects, sectors where demand for specialised cargo transportation continues to increase globally.
According to Dajin Heavy Industry, each vessel will be equipped with two 1,200-tonne heavylift cranes, giving the ships a combined tandem lifting capacity of up to 2,400 tonnes. The vessels will also be built under DNV classification standards and will include a range of smart and environmentally focused technologies aimed at improving both operational efficiency and overall sustainability performance.
Jumbo currently operates its shipping activities through the JSI Alliance, the commercial partnership it formed with Germany’s SAL Heavy Lift in 2021. The alliance expanded further in 2024 when US-based Intermarine joined the platform, creating a combined fleet of more than 50 vessels serving the project cargo, infrastructure, industrial, and energy sectors.
This latest order also follows the Orca Class renewal programme launched by Jumbo and SAL Heavy Lift in 2022. As part of that initiative, SAL Heavy Lift signed contracts with China’s Wuhu Shipyard for four firm 14,600 dwt heavylift vessels, along with two optional units for the alliance.
Once the newly ordered ships enter service, the JSI Alliance will further strengthen its position in the global heavylift and project logistics market, particularly as offshore energy and large infrastructure projects continue to grow in scale and complexity worldwide.
