The Spliethoff Group of the Netherlands plans to take delivery of five 16,800dwt heavy-lift vessels for operation by BigLift Shipping later this year from China's Ouhua Shipyard.

The D-4 type heavylifters will be powered by eight-cylinder Wärtsilä 46 main engines coupled to controllable pitch (CP) propellers

The first ship is expected to be handed over in August, with the last to be delivered before the end of December.

The Ouhua yard is also building six 12,500-dwt multipurpose vessels for Spliethoff's general cargo division that will be delivered between December and May 2011.