The first 14,600 DWT heavy-lift multi-purpose vessel (MPV) built for renowned German owner SAL Heavy Lift at Wuhu Shipyard has successfully completed sea trials and is now counting down to delivery. Behind this state-of-the-art giant sails the full-stack electrical and automation solution supplied by SIBO Group, through its joint venture NORIS-SIBO Automation Co. Ltd.—embracing the main switchboard (MSB), emergency switchboard (ESB), alarm & monitoring system (AMS) and vessel performance management system. Together these systems form the intelligent “nerve centre” safeguarding the safety and smart operation of this maritime heavy-lifter.

Breaking the Mold: Securing a Tier-1 International Order through Technical Excellence

In early 2023, amid fierce competition and SAL’s uncompromising technical requirements, SIBO Group prevailed on the strength of deep technical heritage and rapid responsiveness:

• Technical leadership, precise alignment: Our project team worked hand-in-hand with owner representatives, deeply engaging in technical negotiations and revisions. Final system selections underscored the owner’s explicit endorsement of SIBO’s technical roadmap.

• Value victory, transcending price wars: Despite an overall quotation that was not the lowest, SIBO’s pronounced technical price-performance advantage in critical areas secured decisive owner support. After arduous rounds of high-level commercial negotiations, SIBO overcame formidable rivals, setting a milestone for further expansion into Europe’s premium vessel segment.

Conquering the Summit: Synergistic Innovation at the Pinnacle of Systems Integration

The 14,600 project stands as a “technical highland” of system integration. SIBO engineers rose to the challenge, demonstrating formidable problem-solving and cross-disciplinary collaboration:

• Bridging global interfaces: Successfully orchestrated Wärtsilä (gensets/battery systems), DEIF (PMS), NORIS (propulsion remote control) and Heatmaster (China’s first ORC waste-heat power system) through intensive multinational video conferences and interface commissioning, resolving the “hard bone” of system compatibility.

• Solving a national first: Addressing power fluctuations introduced by China’s debut ORC system, SIBO, in concert with DEIF and Heatmaster, iteratively refined PMS control logic, ensuring rock-solid power system stability.

Green Benchmark: Pioneering a Zero-Carbon Future through Innovative Technology

The 14,600 DWT MPV project is far more than a conventional newbuild; it embodies the future of shipping—green, smart, efficient. As the core electrical & automation supplier to SAL Heavy Lift’s flagship Orca-class heavy-lift vessel MV Elise, SIBO Group has both witnessed and enabled a watershed moment in maritime sustainability.

• Leading green shipping: The successful launch of MV Elise crystallizes years of R&D and industry collaboration. The Orca-class design reconciles the stringent demands of heavy-lift operations with dramatic CO₂ reductions, establishing a new environmental benchmark. SIBO’s electrical and automation systems constitute the critical “nerves” and “lifeblood” sustaining this green vision.

• Empowering the blue planet: SIBO is honoured to be a key enabler of this epoch-making project. The 14,600 program is not only a testament to our technical prowess but also a resolute commitment to advancing shipping’s green transition. As MV Elise and her sister vessels enter service, they will carry a cleaner, more sustainable mission across the globe, with SIBO’s intelligent technologies sailing alongside, continuously contributing to worldwide green shipping.

Mission Accomplished: SIBO Speed & Quality in Flawless Delivery

Against a compressed schedule and exacting standards, every SIBO employee united to honour every promise:
• High-efficiency production, rigid milestone control: Workshop teams worked around the clock; the first two core packages were completed ahead of schedule in January 2024 and passed on-site FAT by SAL’s construction team and DNV surveyors.
• Pursuit of excellence, continuous improvement: Swift, targeted responses to FAT comments from owner and yard guaranteed on-time, high-quality delivery, securing invaluable time for subsequent commissioning.

Escorting the Maiden Voyage: Global Acclaim through Professional Service

Sea trials are the ultimate proving ground; SIBO systems exceeded every expectation:
• System synergy, peak performance: During trials, SIBO’s switchboards, alarm & monitoring systems and other core equipment operated in flawless concert with all ship subsystems, providing solid support for propulsion, manoeuvring and safety oversight.
• Service lauded, capability certified: Professional support during commissioning and outstanding performance at sea earned high praise from both SAL and Wuhu Shipyard—“consistent commendation for product quality and service”.

From fierce bidding to technical summit, from star-lit production lines to a flawless maiden voyage—SIBO Group has engraved a distinctive “Made-in-China, Engineered-by-SIBO” hallmark on the global heavy-lift vessel landscape.

This is not merely the departure of a giant vessel; it is SIBO Group’s grand declaration to the worldwide maritime market of our integrated strengths in system design, integration innovation, precision manufacturing and full-lifecycle service. We look forward to joining more partners, hoisting the sail of technology, riding the deep-blue waves, and together building the new era of intelligent shipping.