SAL Heavy Lift, operating as part of the JSI Alliance, has completed its first loading operation using its fully owned and managed semi-submersible heavy transport vessel MV Luisa.

The loading operation involved the float-on loading of the inland barges Scaldis and Duandra for transport from the Netherlands to Uruguay. According to the company, engineering, project management, marine operations and vessel execution were handled by a single integrated team throughout the operation.

The company said the project demonstrates its ability to execute semi-submersible heavy transport operations using in-house resources. It also marks the first loading operation carried out with MV Luisa.

Earlier, SAL Heavy Lift acquired two semi-submersible deck carriers from Pan Ocean and renamed MV Sun Shine as MV Luisa and MV Sun Rise as MV Alma.

Built in Korea in 2008, MV Luisa has a deadweight of 17,113 DWT. The vessel features a 148 × 48 m cargo deck, a maximum submerged draught of 7.05 m, a deck strength of 18 t/m² and a service speed of 9 knots.