June - July 2013 - Association of Dutch Businessmen

Business
For example, advances in technology and in heavy
transport possibilities have changed how the design of
refineries is done. “The current possibilities in heavy
marine transport have resulted in a modular approach in
building refineries. Complete modules are being produced
by the supplier and then shipped to the final destination,
where they are installed. Because of this, the Vanguard will
become a game changer, since even bigger and heavier
units can now be shipped.”
Changes in drilling requirements also fuel the
development of even bigger ships. Oil wells are getting
deeper, drilling is done in deeper water and drilling fields are
becoming bigger. In addition, the hurricane risk in the Gulf
of Mexico requires the offshore platforms to become taller
and heavier. So, the sizes of cargo change which changes the
requirements for the design and development of the vessels.
Up until now Dockwise has navigated successfully
through the economic crisis. The biggest producers of
offshore platforms are located in China, Korea and even
Singapore, while the users can be found in the North Sea,
the Gulf of Mexico and Western Africa. These cargo flows
do not even touch European soil. Dockwise navigates
where growth can be found. With the Vanguard, Dockwise
has proven that they can achieve the inconceivable. And as
was said in ‘De wereld draait door’, Dockwise is definitely a
good example of ‘Hollands Glorie’!
Company Profile
The history of Dockwise dates back to 1992, when Wijsmuller Transport (a division of Heerema) and Dock Express Shipping,
two companies specialising in heavy marine transport, established a joint venture. In 1993 they decided to merge and
Dockwise was founded. Until 2006 Dockwise was owned by Heerema. In 2006 Dockwise Transport was bought out. At the
beginning of 2007 Dockwise was sold to a private equity firm and later that year it became a listed company in Norway. In
2009 a secondary listing on the Euronext Amsterdam followed. In March 2013, Dockwise was acquired by Boskalis.
Over the last twenty years Dockwise has become a leading specialist in heavy transport shipping. In addition,
they have extended their service portfolio to include heavy marine transport, transport and installation, logistical
management, engineering services and offshore installation equipment. Industries serviced include oil & gas, mining,
power, renewable energy, military and port & marine.
Dockwise is the world’s leader in heavy marine transport. They operate the largest and most versatile fleet of semisubmersible
heavy-lift vessels in the world. Their newest vessel-on-the-block, the Vangaurd, is a one-of-a-kind innovation,
which enables Dockwise to deliver the most specialised worldwide transport solutions for their clients. Examples of
cargo carried are offshore drilling rigs, offshore production structures, modules for onshore industrial projects, military
equipment & vessels and port & marine equipment.
With Transportation & Installation Dockwise delivers one-stop-shop solutions for offshore platform transportation
and installation needs. This includes load-out of installations from the fabrication site, transport to the field, launching
and installation of jackets and topsides.
For onshore projects, Dockwise delivers logistical management solutions that cover all facets of modular project
transportation. Within these services, they plan, manage and execute the logistics chain from multiple facilities all over
the world, to ensure timely delivery of modules, all in a single contract.
From their three global engineering excellence centres in Breda, Houston and Shanghai, Dockwise offers engineering
services specialised in deep water fixed structures, floating system design and offshore transportation and installation.
Offshore Kinematics offers innovative offshore installation equipment services. Within this service, area float-over
installation systems are developed and supplied.
Today, Dockwise has 1,200 employees worldwide and has offices which are strategically positioned around the world.
Their fleet consists of 24 vessels, almost all are self-propelled. The smallest ship is the Super Servant 3, with a length
of 139 meters and a breadth of 32 meters, their biggest ship, the Vanguard, is almost twice as big with a length of 275
meters and a breadth of 70 meters.
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