Boskalis Forte
Boskalis Forte is a semi-submersible heavy-transport ship owned and operated by the Dutch company Boskalis. The ship is 216.7 m (711 ft) long with a 43 m (141 ft) hull width.[1]
History
Originally built as Dockwise Forte, the ship was acquired in 2013 when Boskalis acquired Dockwise, and was renamed in 2018 as Boskalis Forte.[2][3]
The ship was contracted by SpaceX in August 2026 to transport the 52-meter long Starship Ship 40 from the Indian Ocean back to Port of Brownsville in Texas. Ship 40 unexpectedly remained intact on the ocean surface after a flight to space then a controlled reentry and zero-velocity splashdown northwest of Australia during a flight test on 24 July 2026, and SpaceX subsequently decided to salvage the spaceship and bring it back to the development site for engineering analysis. After 24 days as sea following the test flight, Ship 40 was loaded onto Forte on 24 August 2026 in the Christmas Island anchorage for the 17,000 km (11,000 mi) voyage to the U.S.[4][1][5]
References
- 1 2 Forte Heavy Lift Vessel IMO: 9592848. Marine Traffic registry. 24 August 2026.
- ↑ ICE Boskalis Westminster NV, retrieved 23 August 2026.
- ↑ Stormworks: Build and Rescue — Boskalis Forte, retrieved 23 August 2026.
- ↑ SpaceX rocket set to depart Christmas Island for Texas aboard specialist recovery vessel, ABC Australia, 24 AUgust 2026, retrieved 24 August 2026.
- ↑ Beautiful view of FORTE now it has arrived at Christmas Island. It is preparing to partially submerge, have Ship 40 floated on top, and will rise again to come back to Texas., Chris Bray via Marcus House, retrieved 24 August 2026.