Recently, China Shipbuilding Group’s Wuhan Ship Machinery Company signed a contract with Yantai Salvage Bureau for the 5,600-ton full-revolving crane project. This marks Wuhan Ship Machinery’s first entry into the heavy-duty offshore crane market above 5,000 tons, fully demonstrating the company’s comprehensive design and construction capabilities for the full range of offshore cranes. It further consolidates Wuhan Ship Machinery’s leading position in the marine engineering equipment market and enhances its brand influence.
Yantai Salvage Bureau’s 5,000-ton-class salvage and lifting vessel is a steel, fully welded, electrically propelled self-propelled salvage and lifting vessel. It is primarily used for emergency rescue and salvage operations of sunken ships and objects underwater, with capabilities to respond to emergencies, conduct large-tonnage underwater object salvage, and rapid obstacle clearance. Wuhan Ship Machinery will equip the vessel with a 5,600-ton floating heavy-duty crane. The stern lift has a maximum capacity of 5,600 tons @ 45 meters (without the need for securing, improving operational efficiency), while the full-revolving lift has a maximum capacity of 3,500 tons @ 45 meters. It can handle the lifting and installation of large modules, platform components, and jacket structures. Once completed, the vessel’s main crane will rank among the top three in China in terms of lifting capacity.
The project aligns with international advanced technical standards and innovatively develops a large split-type slewing bearing offshore crane. Compared to traditional anti-roller slewing mechanisms, it offers significant advantages such as higher reliability, lighter weight, and more balanced load distribution. Additionally, this type of slewing bearing not only ensures no need for maintenance or replacement throughout its designed lifespan under routine maintenance but also features endoscopic inspection and flushing functions, as well as reserved access for internal rolling element replacement, greatly enhancing post-maintenance convenience.
Wuhan Ship Machinery has previously supplied a series of key lifting equipment for Yantai Salvage Bureau’s projects, including the “Defu 3600” crane vessel, the “Dejian” 1,200-ton wind power installation platform, and the “Defu 1200” floating crane platform. With superior product performance and outstanding quality, the company has earned customer recognition and trust. The signing of the 5,600-ton crane project not only extends and expands their collaborative relationship but also marks a new milestone in their cooperation in the field of lifting and salvage vessels. Moving forward, Wuhan Ship Machinery will continue to uphold its core corporate values of “Three Qualities, Three Commitments,” actively driving this project to become an exemplary model in the construction of lifting and salvage vessels, and contributing the strength of “national heavy equipment” to China’s salvage and rescue system.
