August 9 - Mega Passion, a semi-submersible heavy lift ship, successfully delivered to TPI Mega Line by Daewoo Shipbuilding and Marine Engineering in June, is seen loaded with midship blocks for Heerema collected from the DSSC Yantai Yard in China.

Mega Passion has a length of 203 m, breadth of 63 m and a maximum load out capacity of 54,000 tonnes at a speed of 12 knots.

According to TPI Mega Line, this will make the vessel the largest semi-submersible ship in Asia and second largest in the world. The ship has the capacity to transport drilling rigs, various offshore equipment and platforms as she can be submerged down to a depth of 22 m.

Until now the "Big Three" Korean shipbuilders have depended on overseas companies to transport heavy offshore plants and equipment ex South Korea.

HLPFI understands that Mega Passion will be followed by Mega Caravan and Mega Caravan 2 in 2011.