Drydocks World has placed its new 5,000-tonne floating crane Alnokhada into the water, concluding the primary fabrication phase and moving the project into outfitting. Delivery remains planned for Q2 2026, with commissioning expected in Q1 2026.
The unit was built by Shanghai Zhenhua Heavy Industries (ZPMC) Offshore and is now afloat, advancing to the stage that covers system installation and testing. These activities will prepare the crane for use in complex offshore, industrial, and energy projects.
Alnokhada is 138.5 m long, spans 52 m in beam and has a 5.8 m draft. Its lifting arrangement pairs a 5,000-tonne main hook with a 600-tonne auxiliary hook capable of reaching 180 m, enabling operations that require both significant capacity and controlled handling.
In July 2025, Drydocks World organised a competition to name the crane, receiving more than 3,000 entries. The selected submission came from Kim Alfonso, a certified lifting equipment engineer from the Philippines and a former yard employee. The name draws from the Gulf Arabic term describing the dhow captain who led high-risk pearl-diving voyages, reflecting Dubai’s maritime heritage.
According to Capt. Rado Antolovic, CEO of Drydocks World, Alnokhada, is a key element of the yard’s long-term development and supports its strategy to deliver the next generation of offshore vessels and large industrial projects, both offshore and onshore.
