SAL Heavy Lift has announced a major expansion of its deck carrier fleet with the acquisition of two semi-submersible vessels, MV Sun Shine and MV Sun Rise, purchased from former owner Pan Ocean of Korea. The ships are expected to be delivered in Europe between October 2025 and April 2026 and will be commercially operated under the JSI Alliance.
The move follows the company’s successful long-term charter of the semi-submersible deck carriers MV Zhong Ren 121 and MV Zhong Ren 122 in 2023. With these latest additions, SAL doubles its capacity in this specialised segment, reinforcing its position in the heavy lift and offshore market.
According to Matthieu Moerman, Director Renewables & Offshore at the JSI Alliance, the expansion responds to increasing client demand. “With four vessels now in this segment, we can offer even greater operational flexibility and tailored solutions for large-scale, complex projects,” he said. He also noted that MV Sun Shine is among the few deck carriers built outside China, providing additional flexibility in relation to tariffs and trade regulations.
MV Sun Shine, built in Korea in 2008, offers a deadweight tonnage of 17,113 and a 148 x 48 metre deck, while MV Sun Rise, built in China in 2012, provides 24,629 DWT with a 134 x 44 metre deck. Both feature semi-submersible capabilities, uniform deck strength, and global operating capacity.
Following delivery, the vessels will be renamed MV Luisa (Sun Shine) and MV Alma (Sun Rise), honouring the daughters of two Harren Group colleagues. Dr Martin Harren, CEO of Harren Group and SAL Heavy Lift, emphasised the strategic importance of the acquisitions, noting that they allow the company to offer a full service range from smaller MPP vessels to some of the largest semi-submersible carriers.
To support this growth, SAL Heavy Lift also plans to expand its sales, engineering, and operations teams across Hamburg, Rotterdam, and Singapore.
