Koole purchases assets to expand maritime contractor fleet

The Dutch engineering contractor added 2012-built offshore tug/supply ship Koole 53, formerly Dutch Blue, and Koole Lift 400 to strengthen its fleet and expand its capabilities in the maritime and offshore sectors.

Koole 53 is a 53-m, 1,159-gt vessel with a beam of 13 m and hull depth of around 5 m, with Wärtsilä W8L20 main engines producing 3,200 kW of power and a top speed of 11 knots.

The company said its addition was a “milestone in demonstrating its commitment to delivering maritime services worldwide”.

After its acquisition, Dutch Blue was sailed across the Atlantic from Sierra Leone to Willemstad, Curacao, to be repainted and renamed.

Koole Lift 400 was towed from Norway to Amsterdam, the Netherlands, by anchor handling tug Koole 32 after its acquisition in March 2024, where it was prepared to begin service for Koole.

It has a maximum lifting capacity of 400 tonnes and a high lifting height on the main hooks of 30 m from the deck. At a reach of 23 m, it can lift 100 tonnes, while at its maximum reach of 40 m, this crane can list 56 tonnes.

Koole said this Panama-flagged floating shearleg will be utilised for heavy-lift activities, salvage assistance, wreck removal and cargo transport. Koole Lift 400 is self-propelled using two Schottel thrusters and one bow thruster, controlled from the bridge, with a maximum speed of around 5 knots. It can lift loads at heights up to 49 m, fuel oil capacity of 152 m³ and accommodation for 13 workers.

Koole recently completed removal of ship wreck OS35 from outside Gibraltar and its tow on a barge to Amsterdam for dismantling and recycling in an environmental friendly way.