Freight News, Sea

Jumbo Orders Four J-Class Heavy-lift Ships

[ May 28, 2026   //   Gary Burrows ]

Jumbo Maritime has ordered a new series of heavy-lift vessels designed to support offshore wind, oil and gas, offshore construction and other project cargo sectors, as carriers continue investing in more specialized tonnage for complex industrial cargoes.

The Dutch heavy-lift operator said the new J1800 vessels will be built at China Merchants Jinling Shipyard in Yangzhou, China, with delivery of the first ship scheduled for December 2027.

The vessels will form Jumbo’s new J-Class fleet and are intended to support a broad range of heavy-lift transport and offshore installation work. Each vessel will feature a 2,500-dwt heavy-lift crane mounted on the port side and a large open deck area designed for oversized and high-value cargoes.

Jumbo said the ships are being designed for operational flexibility across sectors including offshore wind, oil and gas, mining and other specialized marine heavy-lift requirements. The vessels also will incorporate dual-fuel methanol-ready propulsion systems and battery-supported operations intended to reduce emissions and improve fuel efficiency.

The company said the ships are designed to handle increasingly complex cargo transportation and offshore construction demands while maintaining operational versatility across multiple industrial sectors.

Peter de Bree, CEO of Jumbo, said the investment represents “a long-term industrial collaboration” between the carrier, shipbuilder and engineering partners while supporting the company’s expansion in offshore wind and offshore construction markets.

Dajin Heavy Industry said the project marks the beginning of a broader cooperation focused on offshore wind vessel construction, offshore wind engineering and deep-sea equipment services.

Tags: Jumbo Maritime