Two BC-Class Vessels to Join Existing Fleet of Four in Q4 2025 and Q2 2026
Heavy-lift partners BigLift Shipping and CY Shipping are beefing up their combined fleet to six after ordering two new heavy transport vessels (HTVs) from China’s Jing Jiang Nanyang Shipbuilding group.
The first vessel, owned by South Korea’s CY Shipping, will be delivered in the fourth quarter of 2025, while the second, owned by BigLift, part of the Spliethoff Group, in the second quarter of 2026.
According to BigLift, the 180-meter-long non-semi-submersible vessels, dubbed BC-Class, are designed to transport ultra-large and heavy modular cargoes worldwide, with a focus on reliable service speed, low accelerations and optimized loading and discharge times.
The vessels boast a maximum deadweight of 25,000 tons and feature a fully unobstructed deck space of more than 6,000 square meters. Cargoes will be loaded and unloaded over the ships’ stern or side by RoRo or skidding.
BigLift and CY Shipping inked a deal in 2019 to merge their heavy transport shipping capabilities. Their current fleet comprises two pairs of sisterships – BigLift Barentsz and BigLift Baffin and CY Interocean I and CY Interocean II.
The fleet is commercially operated by BigLift Shipping.
According to BigLift, the BC-Class’s similar frame spacing, depth, ballast and tidal compensation capacity will be interchangeable with BigLift Barentsz and BigLift Baffin, offering even more deck length and stern loading capability.
“It’s great to see how an initial idea turns into such a strong partnership. Both companies share many of the same values, and we are pleased to start this newbuilding program together with CY Shipping,” said Johan Boer, commercial director at BigLift.
Watch a video of BigLift Shipping and CY Shipping's BC-Class HTVs:
The Spliethoff Group will be exhibiting at Breakbulk Europe 2024 on 21-23 May.
