Allseas has contracted Guangzhou Shipyard International (GSI) in China to build a purpose-built semi-submersible heavy transport vessel – to be named Grand Tour.
The vessel, which is scheduled for delivery in Q1 2028, will have a load capacity of 40,000 tonnes, having been designed to carry the world’s largest offshore structures, said Allseas.
Grand Tour has also been designed to fit exactly inside the bow slot of Allseas’ installation and decommissioning vessel Pioneering Spirit to enable the streamlined transfer of offshore structures.
It will be equipped with a methanol-ready 24 MW propulsion system that has the capability to transition to e-methanol and will feature a 180 m x 57 m cargo deck suitable for direct skidding, ro-ro and flo-flo operations.
Allseas said that Grand Tour will play a key role in TenneT’s 2 GW offshore wind programme, for which the company is transporting large converter stations from fabrication yards in Asia and Europe to installation sites in the Dutch and German North Sea. There, Pioneering Spirit will take over and execute single-lift installation works.
“This addition to our fleet is more than an expansion – it’s a strategic investment that enhances our ability to deliver fully integrated transport and installation (T&I) solutions for some of the world’s most ambitious offshore energy projects,” said Allseas project director Pieter Kambier. “By keeping transport and installation in-house, Allseas can reduce risk, streamline schedules, and offer clients unmatched reliability in delivering complex offshore infrastructure.”
Beyond offshore wind, Grand Tour will also enable Allseas to relocate its own fleet assets and enter new floating cargo markets.
