Pioneering Spirit
IMO 9462775 · MMSI 229705000
Spotlight
Pioneering Spirit is a 2013-built split-hull heavy-lift crane vessel (403,342 GT), the largest ship in the world by GT. Owned by Swiss offshore contractor Allseas Group and Malta-flagged. Formerly named Pieter Schelte after the founder's father — renamed under public pressure before delivery due to the elder Schelte's controversial WWII record. Her twin 122-m slots straddle offshore oil-and-gas platforms for single-lift installation or decommissioning (up to 48,000 tonnes topside; 25,000 tonnes jacket). Also fits a 2,000-m pipe-lay stinger. Notable projects: 2017 removal of the Brent Delta topsides (24,000 t) in a single lift.
Crew perspective
Pioneering Spirit is offshore's most sought-after posting for deck-and-engineering ratings: the vessel operates on 4-week rotations with 300+ persons onboard during heavy-lift campaigns, and roles range from routine ship-handling to platform-decom-specific rigging. STCW certification alone doesn't qualify — Allseas runs a proprietary lift-plan qualification for bridge officers.
Notable incidents
- 2017 Brent Delta decommissioning: single-lift 24,200-tonne topsides removal (largest offshore lift ever)
Sister ships
Amazing Grace (in build)
Status: In service · Wikipedia
Before joining this vessel — checklist
Work through each item before signing your SEA or travelling to the vessel.
- 1. Verify vessel identity
Confirm the vessel name and IMO number match. Pioneering Spirit (IMO 9462775) · Flag: MLT
- 2. Check the flag state record
MLT flag state profile · How to read flag risk · Paris/Tokyo MoU lists
- 3. Check the company
Owner unknown. Owner and manager unknown — ask the employer.
- 4. Review your contract (SEA)
Read your Seafarer Employment Agreement before joining. SEA rights guide · Contract reading checklist
- 5. Check repatriation terms
Confirm repatriation is covered and the conditions are clear. Repatriation rights guide
- 6. Watch for recruitment-fee red flags
You should never pay to get a job at sea. Recruitment fees & scams guide
- 7. Save emergency contacts
Record ITF, flag-state authority, and welfare helpline numbers before departure. Emergency contact planner
Data sources and methodology: /sources
- Type
- Heavy-lift / offshore installation
- Flag
- 🇲🇹 Malta · compare
- Year built
- 2013
- Builder
- DSME
- GT
- 403,342
- DWT
- 243,978
- LOA
- 382 m
- Beam
- 124 m
- Draft
- 27 m
- Class
- Bureau Veritas
- Owner
- —
- Manager
- —
Largest vessel by GT ever built. Single-lift platform installation/decommissioning.
Vessel history
Pioneering Spirit (formerly Pieter Schelte) is a split hull crane vessel designed for the single-lift installation and removal of large oil and gas platforms, and pipelines.[\[4\]](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/PioneeringSpirit#citenote-ShipsMonthly1-4)
Source: Pioneering Spirit · cached via Firecrawl
PSC detention history
No detentions in the last 2 years.
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Editorial confidence: how we grade. Data sources and methodology: /sources.