Drydocks World has launched its 5,000-tonne Alnokhada floating crane, marking a major leap forward for the region’s offshore construction capabilities.
The floating crane, built in collaboration with ZPMC Offshore, has completed primary fabrication and entered the outfitting phase in Dubai.
”Alnokhada represents a major step in the long-term development of our yard and the future of heavy-lift capability in the region,” said Capt. Rado Antolovic, PhD, CEO, Drydocks World.
“Beyond its engineering significance, the crane is central to our investment strategy, strengthening our capacity to deliver the next generation of offshore vessels and industrial mega projects, both offshore and onshore. As it enters its final phase of construction, we look forward to the role it will play in positioning Drydocks World at the centre of the region’s industrial transformation.”
Offshore asset
With the crane barge now afloat, the crane will now enter the outfitting stage which includes system installation, lifting gear testing and final commissioning ahead of its scheduled delivery in Q2 2026, strengthening the company’s capabilities across marine construction and heavy-lift operations.
At 138.5 metres long with a 52-metre beam and 5.8-metre draft, Alnokhada is set to become one of the region’s most capable assets for offshore construction.
Its lifting system combines a 5,000-tonne main hook and 600-tonne auxiliary hook with a reach of up to 180 metres, enabling the heavy-lift capacity required for complex industrial, energy and offshore construction projects.
The name of the crane comes from the Gulf Arabic word النوخذة (Al Nokhada), meaning the dhow boat captain, one who would lead often dangerous pearl diving expeditions.
Alnokhada was given its name following a nationwide competition that received more than 3,000 submissions. The winner was Kim Alfonso, a certified lifting equipment engineer from the Philippines, who had previously worked for Drydocks World.
Earlier this year, Drydocks World announced it has launched an industry alliance with five other global shipyards to accelerate sustainability and environmental progress across the vessel build sector.
