MacGregor supplies 165 tonne crane for Jan De Nul offshore newbuild

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MacGregor will supply a 165 tonne active heave compensated crane for an Ulstein SX121 offshore vessel ordered by Jan De Nul, giving the newbuild a lifting system designed to maintain crane operations in changing sea conditions.

The vessel is under construction at China Merchants Heavy Industry in China and forms part of a programme covering one confirmed vessel and an option for a second. Delivery of the first vessel is scheduled for February 2028.

MacGregor recorded the contract in its second quarter 2026 order intake. The company did not disclose the financial value of the order.

Jan De Nul selected the crane partly because the lifting system has already demonstrated its performance during previous offshore projects, according to MacGregor.

An active heave compensated crane adjusts its lifting movement to counter the motion of the vessel. The system effectively acts like a stabilising hand, helping keep a suspended load under control while the ship rises and falls with the sea.

That capability is important for offshore construction work, where vessel movement can affect lifting accuracy, operational windows and the safe positioning of equipment.

MacGregor said the crane’s relatively low structural weight would allow the vessel to retain lifting capacity without requiring the additional weight associated with a larger crane.

“This crane’s lightweight design gives higher lifting capacity without the added weight of a larger unit, and that translates into a real operational advantage over the vessel’s working life,” said Lucie Addicks, executive vice president of offshore solutions at MacGregor.

MacGregor will use its engineering and production presence in China to support CMHI during the vessel’s construction. This will include assistance with crane design, installation and commissioning.

Providing those services close to the shipyard is intended to reduce coordination delays and help CMHI maintain the construction schedule through to delivery. Crane integration is a critical part of an offshore vessel build because the equipment must be connected with the ship’s structure, electrical systems and operational controls.

The SX121 design comes from Ulstein and is intended for offshore construction activities. The 165 tonne crane will provide the vessel with lifting capacity for subsea and offshore installation work while its active compensation system addresses vertical vessel movement.

The possible second vessel would extend the programme if Jan De Nul exercises its option, although MacGregor did not disclose when that decision is expected or whether the crane package for the optional vessel would have identical specifications.

MacGregor reported sales of approximately €830 million in 2025 and employs about 2,000 people across 30 countries. Its equipment portfolio covers cargo handling and offshore load handling systems for new vessels, upgrades and modernisation projects.