Bergen, Norway — Tronds Marine Service AS has signed a shipbuilding contract with Panjin Dajin Offshore Engineering Co. Ltd for a new semi-submersible heavy cargo deck barge, developed in collaboration with Salt Ship Design. The vessel will be among the largest of its class, offering extreme submerging capabilities for ultra-heavy cargo handling and launch operations.
The newbuild, scheduled for delivery in Q4 2027, will feature an extraordinary submerging depth of up to 23 m of water above deck, allowing it to accommodate and deploy some of the world’s largest floating and subsea structures. Once completed, the vessel will be available for charter worldwide.
Key Technical Highlights
- Length Overall: 150 m
- Breadth Overall: 60 m
- Depth (moulded): 9.5 m
- Deadweight (DWT): 43,000 t
- Deck Strength: 35 t/m²
- Submerging Capacity: 23 m of water above deck
- Removable Aft Towers for enhanced flexibility
The company emphasized that the new unit builds upon decades of operational experience with semi-submersible barges such as Tronds Barge 33 and Tronds Barge 30. The former played a central role in the Port of Nador caisson construction in Morocco and is currently deployed in Italy’s Genova Breakwater project, while Tronds Barge 30 continues to support primary launching operations across Europe.
Beyond its semi-submersible fleet, Tronds Marine Service manages a diverse array of support assets — including flattop cargo barges, tugboats, floating cranes, and specialized marine units — allowing the company to deliver integrated transport and offshore installation solutions tailored to complex project requirements.
The company expressed appreciation to Fearnley Offshore Supply and Simonsen Vogt Wiig for their contributions in facilitating the newbuilding contract.
