MV Blue Marlin

M/V Blue Marlin and her sister ship M/V Black Marlin comprise the Marlin class of semisubmersible heavy transport vessel. They were owned by Offshore Heavy Transport ASA of Oslo, Norway from the times of their construction, in April 2000 and November 1999 respectively, until July 6, 2001 when they were purchased by Dockwise Shipping BV of the Netherlands. They were designed to transport very large semi-submersible drilling rigs which can weigh 30,000 tons and have a center of gravity around 30 meters (100 feet) above the transport ship's deck. The Marlins are equipped with 38 cabins to accommodate 60 people, a workout room, sauna, and swimming facilities.

The US Navy hired the Blue Marlin to transport the destroyer USS Cole back to the United States after it was crippled in Aden, Yemen by a terrorist attack.

Specifications

• Length Overall: 217.00 m (712.0 ft)
• Length PP: 206.50 m (677.5 ft)
• Breadth Moulded: 42.00 m (137.8 ft)
• Depth Moulded: 13.30 m (43.6 ft)
• Summer Draft: 10.10 m (33.1 ft)
• Deadweight: 56,000 mt (Cole weighed much less than 8,000 mt.)
• Submerged Depth above Deck: 10.0 m (32.8 ft)
• Free Deck Length: 178.20 m or 157.20 m (584.6 ft or 515.7 ft)
• Free Deck Area: More than 7215 m² (77,672 ft²)
• Main Engine Output: 12,640 kW (17,160 BHP)
• Bow Thruster: 2,000 kW (2,712 BHP)
• Cruise Speed: 14.5 knots
• Cruise Range: 25,000 nm
• Accommodation: 55 people
• Building Yard: CSBC, Kaohsiung