GPO Heavylift has completed the transport of Seaspan Shipyards’ floating drydock Careen from Vancouver, Canada, to Batam, Indonesia. The operation was carried out in February 2026 using the semi-submersible heavy-lift vessel GPO Emerald, marking a rare “drydock of a drydock” execution.
The loading operation took place in Burrard Inlet, where GPO Emerald submerged its deck by approximately 8–10 m through controlled ballasting. This allowed the floating drydock to be positioned directly onto the vessel’s 48 m-wide deck. Securing activities, including welding, were conducted over several days before departure.
Following completion of loading, the vessel transited via the Panama Canal, enabling an efficient route for the Pacific crossing toward Southeast Asia. The transport was conducted on behalf of Seaspan Shipyards, with coordination involving Port of Vancouver authorities to ensure operational safety during the loading phase.
Upon arrival in Batam, the floating drydock is scheduled to undergo upgrades at a specialized facility. The unit is expected to return to Vancouver in summer 2026 following completion of the works.
The project highlights GPO Heavylift’s capability in handling large-scale marine structures, including floating drydocks, through semi-submersible transport solutions.
