Intermarine takes delivery on first of 8 new heavy lift vessels

New Orleans-based heavy lift and project ocean carrier Intermarine said Wednesday it has taken delivery of the Industrial Eagle, the first of eight new heavy lift ships entering its fleet over the next three years.

The 10,000-deadweight-ton vessel was immediately chartered to Intermarine affiliate Trinitas Maritime Carriers, which required the vessel to pick up cargo in Hamburg and Antwerp for delivery in Brazil. After discharging its cargo in Brazil, the ship will carry a load of Brazilian wind turbine components to the United States, then head on to the Far East to join the Intermarine intra-Asia services fleet.

The Industrial Eagle is the first in a series of four new builds designated as the E-Class vessels, along with the Industrial Egret, Industrial Edge and Industrial Echo, each incorporating enhanced cargo carrying and lifting capacity. The E-Class features dual 250-ton cranes that may be combined for 500-ton lifts. The ships have a hull design similar to the seven C-Class and six D-Class vessels in the Intermarine services fleet. 

There is a demand for higher capacity cranes as the size of reactors, fractionators and cracking towers at refineries and chemical plants has grown, said Andre Grikitis, president of Intermarine. The vessels shallow-draft capability allows us to service smaller ports and undeveloped areas. The four vessels and four additional 12,000 dwt vessels, in a yet unnamed class, are being built by ENVC in Portugal.

Intermarine provides regular and reliable project transportation in the Americas and Asia as well as customized services worldwide. The company has offices in Houston, New Orleans, Caracas, Buenos Aires, Seoul, Shanghai and Mumbai. 

Source: American Shipper