Wilhelmsen Ship Management Expands Fleet with Heavy Lift Vessel

Wilhelmsen Wilhelmsen Ship Management (WSM) revealed it will manage MV GPO Grace, GPO Heavylifts purpose-built semi-submersible vessel newbuilding. Launched in December 2016, the 64,000 dwt GPO Grace is one of the four identical heavy lift vessels being built at CSBC shipyard in Taiwan. This will be the most technologically advanced heavy lift vessel in the world. It will be our first heavy lift vessel in our managed fleet today and we aim to expand further in this segment, Carl Schou, President of Wilhelmsen Ship Management, commented. With this latest addition into our managed fleet, it is a comeback for us in the heavy lift segment. Such advanced vessel fits well with our digital solution which will enhance operational efficiency, Schou added. As disclosed, WSM is in the process of securing the second contract with GPO Heavylift for the second heavy-lift ship, MV GPO Amethyst. All of the four ships are owned by Singapore-based Greenland Heavylift Holdings and operated by GPO Heavylift. With a gross tonnage of 45,100 tons, each of the ships will feature a length of 225 meters and a width of 48 meters. The four newbuilds are expected to be delivered until the end of 2017, according to information provided by VesselsValue. GPO Grace will be managed by the Oslo management center and will sail with a full complement of Latvian crew, WSM said.