Allseas is expanding its fleet with a purpose-built semi-submersible heavy transport vessel (HTV) designed to be compatible with the Pioneering Spirit. The vessel, to be named Grand Tour, was ordered at Guangzhou Shipyard International (GSI) in China, with delivery scheduled for Q1 2028.
Grand Tour will have a load capacity of 40,000 tonnes, designed to carry the world’s largest offshore structures across oceans and easily transfer them to Pioneering Spirit for installation.
With the vessel, Allseas wants to reinforce its role as a key player in the expansion of the European offshore electricity grid and the wider energy transition. Beyond offshore wind, Grand Tour will enable Allseas to relocate its own fleet assets, and enter new floating cargo markets – opening new long-term opportunities across sectors.
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Designed for Pioneering Spirit’s bow slot
The new vessel is designed to fit exactly inside the bow slot of Pioneering Spirit. The Pioneering Spirit is the world´s largest offshore construction vessel. The integration will streamline the offshore installation process, and offer clients a one-stop-shop for transport and installation of large structures fabricated far away from the installation location.
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Methanol-ready
Features of the Grand Tour include:
- Semi-submersible hull with 57-metre beam for enhanced stability and shallow-draught access at global yards.
- 40,000-tonne load capacity
- Advanced ballast system pumping 24,000 m3/h – equivalent to ten Olympic swimming pools – enabling safe, precise load transfers.
- Methanol-ready 24 MW propulsion system, with capability to transition to e-methanol, securing competitiveness in a changing energy market.
- Air lubrication system under the hull and podded propulsion to reduce drag, improve transit efficiency, and cut fuel use.
- 180 x 57-m cargo deck designed for direct skidding, roll-on/roll-off, and float-on/float-off operations.
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Supporting Europe’s energy transition
Grand Tour will play a key role in Allseas’ execution of TenneT’s landmark 2GW offshore wind programme, which will deliver 28 GW of clean offshore wind power to European homes and businesses by 2032. The vessel will transport very large converter stations from fabrication yards in Asia and Europe to installation sites in the Dutch and German North Sea, where Pioneering Spirit takes over for single-lift installation.
‘This addition to our fleet is more than an expansion – it’s a strategic investment that enhances our ability to deliver fully integrated Transport & Installation (T&I) solutions for some of the world’s most ambitious offshore energy projects,’ says Project Director Pieter Kambier. ‘By keeping transport and installation in-house, Allseas can reduce risk, streamline schedules, and offer clients unmatched reliability in delivering complex offshore infrastructure.’
Picture by Allseas.
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