The largest vessel in the world, heavy lift and pipelayer Pieter Schelte, has arrived in Rotterdam to undergo final assembly in the inner lake of Maasvlakte 2.

Under construction since 2007, the 382 m long and 124 m wide Peter Schelte will be largest vessel ever built once completed, with a 48,000 tonne topside capacity, a 25,000 tonne jacket lift capacity, and a 2,000 tonne pipelay tension capacity.

Work undertaken at Rotterdam is to include installation of a set of 65m long support beams, amongst other work, estimated to cost around €700m ($826m) and involving 440 different Dutch firms.

Rotterdam Port Authority maintains that the geography of the region, especially the plots of water on Maasvlakte 2, can be “put to good use” for the dismantling of oil and gas platforms, construction of wind farms and demobilisation projects.

“The arrival of the Pieter Schelte in Rotterdam is in line with Port Authority policy, which is geared towards strengthening the Rotterdam offshore sector further,” said Rotterdam Port Authority ceo Allard Castelein. “In this connection, it is developing new port sites specially for this sector in both the existing port area and on the Maasvlakte. Recently, for example, Franklin Offshore Europe set up business at RDM Rotterdam.”

Meanwhile Allseas intends to construct an even larger heavy-lift vessel than Pieter Schelte, set to be delivered in 2020.