An unusual carrier and an untypical cargo handling operation
at the Port of Gdansk

24.07.2009

On 23 July 2009, an unusual vessel "Super Servant 4" docked at DCT Gdansk. The carrier is suited to shipping yachts. It has the ability to submerge under water so that yachts can be easily floated onto its board. After the yachts have been docked onboard, "Super Servant 4" comes to the surface and takes the load to a place of destination. The vessel is owned by the shipowner "Dockwise Yacht Transport" and operates under the flag of Netherlands Antilles. "Super Servant 4" is one of the four and ranks second in size among the yacht carriers owned by this shipowner. This 169.49-metre long and 32.03-metre wide vessel was built in 1982 in Japan. It has a typical draught of 5.38 metres. However, in order for yachts to sail onto its deck, it can submerge up to 14.5 metres. The deck is 32 by 146 metres, which enables the carrier to accommodate many crafts at the same time. "Super Servant 4" can develop a speed of up to 15 knots. Its carrying capacity is 17,600 DWT and gross tonnage - 12,642 GT.

"Super Servant 4" brought to the Gdansk port a nearly 1,265-tonne reactor for the Lotos refinery that is currently being expanded. The reactor comes from Italy and was loaded onto the carrier in the port of Marina di Carrara. At the Gdansk port, the heavy lift was rolled onto a pontoon by means of a self propelled modular trailer suited to transporting heavy lifts. The operation required many hours of preparations. The load will float on the pontoon up the Bold Vistula to the refinery wharf.