South Korea’s CY Shipping and the Netherlands-based BigLift Shipping are strengthening their joint presence in the heavy transport market with an order for two additional BC-Class vessels. The ships, to be constructed at Jing Jiang Nanyang Shipbuilding in China, will expand the partners’ combined fleet to a total of eight units. According to the companies, the first vessel is scheduled for delivery in the first quarter of 2028, followed by a second in the third quarter of the same year.
The BC-Class has been designed to carry very large and heavy modular cargoes worldwide, with a focus on minimizing acceleration forces, ensuring efficient loading and unloading, and maintaining reliable service speeds. Each ship will measure 180 meters in length and 43 meters in beam, providing a deck area of 43 by 140 meters, or roughly 6,020 square meters of unobstructed cargo space. The vessels will have a depth of around 12 meters and a deadweight capacity of approximately 25,000 metric tons, supported by a ballast system capable of pumping 12,000 cubic meters per hour.
A key feature of the new units is their interchangeability with BigLift’s existing MC-Class ships, such as BigLift Barentsz and BigLift Baffin. By sharing similar frame spacing, ballast arrangements, and tidal compensation systems, the vessels can be deployed flexibly across different projects. At the same time, the BC-Class introduces enhancements, including stern-loading capability and an extended deck, broadening the operational possibilities for project cargo transport.
The expansion highlights the ongoing partnership between CY Shipping and BigLift, which has been steadily developed since 2019. By investing in additional tonnage, the two companies are positioning themselves to secure both long-term contract work and large one-off transport projects that demand specialized heavy transport capacity. With more vessels of identical or near-identical design, the fleet gains greater efficiency and redundancy, enabling smoother scheduling and improved service reliability.
Commenting on the announcement, CY Shipping Director James Jung said the order represents pride in deepening cooperation with BigLift while ensuring readiness for the demands of tomorrow’s heavy transport market. BigLift Commercial Director Johan Boer echoed this sentiment, noting that the BC-Class program embodies the partners’ shared values and described the fleet expansion as proof of a strong collaboration that successfully transforms ideas into tangible results.
With the addition of these two ships, CY Shipping and BigLift are not only reinforcing their joint fleet but also underscoring their role as major players in the global heavy transport segment, where demand for high-capacity and versatile project carriers is expected to remain strong in the coming years.
