page_title: Heavy-lift ship
hierarchical_section_title: Heavy-lift ship
caption_attribution_description: English: The semi-submersible ship M/V Blue Marlin carrying damaged USS Cole. Français&#160;: Le navire semi-submersible M/V Blue Marlin portant le USS Cole (DDG-67) endommagé. Information about Blue Marlin may be found at IMO 9186338.A ship can change name and flag state through time, but the IMO number remains the same through the hull's entire lifetime. As a result, it can be useful to identify a ship by using the IMO number.
context_page_description: A heavy-lift ship is a vessel designed to move very large loads that cannot be handled by normal ships. They are of two types:
  Semi-submersible ships that take on water ballast to allow the load—usually another vessel—to be floated over the deck, whereupon the ballast is jettisoned and the ship's deck and cargo raised above the waterline.
  Project cargo ships that use at least one heavy-lift crane for handling heavy cargo and sufficient ballast to assure stability and sea-keeping properties.
context_section_description: A heavy-lift ship is a vessel designed to move very large loads that cannot be handled by normal ships. They are of two types:
  Semi-submersible ships that take on water ballast to allow the load—usually another vessel—to be floated over the deck, whereupon the ballast is jettisoned and the ship's deck and cargo raised above the waterline.
  Project cargo ships that use at least one heavy-lift crane for handling heavy cargo and sufficient ballast to assure stability and sea-keeping properties.
caption: MV Blue Marlin carrying USS Cole.
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