Saipem 7000 transits the Istanbul Strait

The world’s third-largest semi-submersible crane and pipelaying vessel, “Saipem 7000,” has completed its passage through the Istanbul Strait.

The Bahamas-flagged crane and pipelaying vessel “Saipem 7000” made its passage through the Istanbul Strait. The 197.95-meter-long giant vessel, which lowered itself by filling its ballast tanks with water and tilted its crane towers to pass beneath the Istanbul Strait bridges, completed its transit under extensive security measures.

Height lowered for bridge passage

The platform, which stands 135 meters high, lowered its height to 57 meters by tilting its towers to pass beneath the bridges. The vessel features a twin-crane system with a lifting capacity of 14,000 tons at once and draws attention with its width of 87 meters.

Set a record in the Blue Stream Project

The Saipem 7000, which previously operated in the Black Sea as part of the Blue Stream Project, which transported natural gas from Russia to Türkiye, set a record by laying a pipeline at a depth of 2,150 meters. The vessel, which is capable of laying pipelines in waters deeper than 2,000 meters and can accommodate up to 725 personnel, continues its international maritime operations.