GlossaryEN1 min readUpdated: Jun 24, 2026
Heavy-Lift Ship Chartering
When a power plant turbine, offshore jacket, or bridge girder needs to move by sea, heavy-lift ship chartering is almost invariably the answer.
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Source: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Heavy_lift_ship
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Logistics Concept
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Definition & Explanation
When a power plant turbine, offshore jacket, or bridge girder needs to move by sea, heavy-lift ship chartering is almost invariably the answer. A project cargo shipper or freight forwarder charters a specialist vessel fitted with onboard cranes capable of handling individual pieces that would be impossible to load onto conventional bulk or container ships. The charter structure depends on the job: a voyage charter fixes a lump-sum freight rate for a single trip, while a time charter places the vessel at the charterer's disposal for an agreed period. A key advantage is the ship's self-sustaining lift capability, which often eliminates the need for shore-based heavy-lift cranes at the load port. The market is served by a small number of highly specialised operators running dedicated fleets.
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