MV Blue Marlin
MV Blue Marlin is a semi-submersible heavy-lift vessel of the Marlin class, built in 2000 by China Shipbuilding Corporation in Taiwan for the Dutch company Dockwise Shipping, now part of Boskalis.[1] Designed for transporting oversized and heavy cargoes such as oil platforms, warships, and semi-submersible drilling rigs, the ship submerges its main deck by ballasting water into its tanks to allow loads to float on board before being raised for transit.[2] With a length overall of 224.8 meters, a beam of 63 meters, a deadweight tonnage of 76,292 tons, and a clear deck space of 178.2 by 63 meters, it ranks among the world's largest vessels of its kind and operates under the Maltese flag with IMO number 9186338.[1][3] The vessel's innovative design includes advanced ballasting systems with four main pumps each capable of 3,300 cubic meters per hour, azimuth thrusters for precise maneuvering, and comprehensive navigation and communication equipment compliant with GMDSS standards, enabling unrestricted global operations.[1] Blue Marlin has a sister ship, MV Black Marlin, and both are equipped to accommodate up to 60 personnel in 38 cabins during voyages.[2] Among its most notable transports, the ship carried the severely damaged USS Cole (DDG-67), a 6,800-ton Arleigh Burke-class destroyer, from Aden, Yemen, to Pascagoula, Mississippi, in late 2000 following a terrorist bombing that killed 17 sailors.[4] In 2006, it delivered the massive Sea-Based X-Band Radar—a floating, ocean-going platform with the world's largest phased-array X-band radar—to Pearl Harbor, Hawaii, after a 15,000-mile journey from the Gulf of Mexico.[5] Other significant operations include relocating the BP Thunder Horse semi-submersible oil platform in 2004 and, more recently as of September 2025, transporting a converted floating production unit (the former Scarabeo 5 drilling rig) to Angola for the Congo LNG project.[6] In May 2019, Blue Marlin was hijacked by armed pirates approximately 80 nautical miles off Equatorial Guinea in the Gulf of Guinea, but the 20 crew members were safely released after a brief ordeal, with the vessel sustaining substantial damage to the bridge but no injuries to the crew.[7] These missions highlight its critical role in offshore energy, military logistics, and heavy marine transport worldwide.Design and specifications
Dimensions and capacity
MV Blue Marlin measures 224.8 meters in length overall and 63 meters in beam, providing a substantial platform for oversized cargoes such as oil platforms and warships.[1] These dimensions were achieved following a 2004 modification that widened the vessel, enhancing its stability and load-carrying potential for heavy-lift operations.[8] The ship's depth is 13.3 meters, contributing to its structural integrity during semi-submersible loading procedures.[9] The deadweight tonnage stands at 76,292 metric tons, enabling the transport of exceptionally heavy loads directly on deck.[1] The clear deck area measures 178.2 meters by 63 meters, equaling 11,227 square meters, which is optimized for securing large, irregularly shaped items without the need for disassembly.[1] Draft varies significantly to facilitate loading: the summer draft is 10.24 meters for standard operations, while submersion for cargo intake reaches up to 28.4 meters aft and 24.72 meters forward, allowing the deck to align with water level for float-on loading of heavy structures.[1] Supporting these capabilities is a ballast system with four main pumps each capable of 3,300 cubic meters per hour, enabling rapid submersion and de-ballasting for safe heavy-lift maneuvers.[1] The vessel includes a single crane with a 100-ton lifting capacity at initial lift, supplemented by provisions for additional heavy-lift gear as needed.[2] Accommodation comprises 38 cabins for up to 60 crew and passengers, ensuring operational support during extended voyages.[10]| Specification | Value |
|---|---|
| Length overall | 224.8 m |
| Beam | 63 m |
| Depth | 13.3 m |
| Summer draft | 10.24 m |
| Submerged draft (aft/forward) | 28.4 m / 24.72 m |
| Deadweight tonnage | 76,292 t |
| Deck area | 11,227 m² |