KUALA LUMPUR (Oct 30): Lianson Fleet Group Bhd (KL:LFG), a regional offshore support vessel (OSV) and marine transportation provider controlled by Yinson Holdings Bhd (KL:YINSON) group executive chairman Lim Han Weng, has acquired a heavy-lift vessel capable of handling loads of up to 4,000 tonnes as it seeks to expand its presence in the offshore marine sector.
The vessel, to be renamed LFG Hercules, was acquired on Oct 28 by Icon Samudera (L) Inc, a wholly owned subsidiary of Lianson, from an unrelated third party incorporated in Panama.
Equipped with a main crane with a lifting capacity of 4,000 tonnes and Dynamic Positioning Class 2 (DP2) capabilities, the vessel will enable the group to pursue larger and more technically complex marine and offshore projects.
Measuring 200.8m in length, 48m in breadth and 16m in depth, the vessel can accommodate up to 160 passengers. It will be registered under the Malaysian flag in Port Klang.
In a bourse filing on Friday, Lianson said the acquisition marks its entry into the heavy-lift segment, complementing its existing vessel ownership, chartering and offshore support operations.
The group expects the vessel to broaden its chartering opportunities in Malaysia and the wider region, citing limited regional availability of comparable heavy-lift assets and anticipated demand for specialised offshore marine services.
Lianson also sees opportunities arising from the decommissioning of ageing offshore oil and gas infrastructure across Southeast Asia, as well as the development of the offshore renewable energy sector.
The vessel's lifting capacity could allow the group to participate in offshore wind turbine installation and related projects, providing exposure to the longer-term growth of the regional offshore wind industry, it said.
The acquisition is expected to contribute positively to the group's earnings for the financial year ending Dec 31, 2026 and subsequent years through charter income.
Lianson currently owns and operates 12 OSVs and 41 marine transportation assets.
Lianson shares closed unchanged at RM1.48 on Friday, valuing the group at RM1.7 billion. The stock has declined 20% so far this year.