The cranes will be delivered to a Chinese shipyard in 2026 for installation on four new D 500 vessels, starting global operations later that year.
Liebherr has secured a contract from German shipping firm dship Carriers to deliver eight LS 250 heavy-lift ship cranes.
Manufactured at Liebherr’s Rostock facility on the German Baltic coast, the cranes are set for delivery to a shipyard in China in 2026.
They will be installed on four new D 500 type vessels and begin global operations later that year.
Currently, dship Carriers operates four F 500 class vessels, each equipped with two LS 250 cranes.
Designed to comply with St. Lawrence Regulations, these cranes will facilitate navigation through the St. Lawrence Seaway, connecting Canada’s Great Lakes to the Atlantic Ocean.
Liebherr Heavy Lift Offshore and Ship Cranes global application manager Robert Pitschmann said: “We are proud that we are strengthening dship’s fleet with the LS 250.
“This is a joint success that is essentially based on mutual trust and appreciation. Thanks to our positive cooperation, we can continuously strive for the best solutions.”
The LS 250 cranes feature a lifting capacity of up to 250t and a maximum outreach of 36m.
Their lightweight design, at 150t, enhances ship stability while enabling efficient cargo handling, according to the company
Designed for easy maintenance, the cranes include a complete hydraulic piping system that reduces upkeep and extends the lifespan of the electro-hydraulic drive system.
Liebherr stated that the LS 250 cranes can withstand extreme environmental conditions.
The fully enclosed crane column protects internal components from harsh conditions, minimising downtime and maintenance costs.
Additionally, Liebherr’s Litronic system is said to ensure reliable crane operation, providing real-time operational data and serving as a direct interface between the crane and its operator for optimal performance and precise load handling.
dship Carriers CEO Lars Feller said: “The cooperation between Liebherr and dship has been in place since 2019.
“Liebherr’s expertise in the field of maritime crane technology is undisputed. The LS 250 cranes offer us the performance and reliability we need for our global operations. These criteria were decisive for dship to join forces with Liebherr to equip our fleet.”
In 2022, dship Carriers received MV Charlie, the final vessel in a series of four eco-friendly F-500 newbuilds.
The company placed an order for these green multi-purpose heavy lift vessels—MV Mick, MV Keith, MV Ronnie, and MV Charlie—in 2018.
