Drydocks World has launched its new 5,000-tonne floating crane Alnokhada, marking a key milestone in the project’s progress and setting the stage for its delivery in Dubai in the second quarter of 2026.
The crane, built by ZPMC Offshore, has completed its primary fabrication phase and is now in the outfitting stage. This next phase covers system installation and testing ahead of commissioning planned for the first quarter of 2026. The launch reinforces the longstanding partnership between the two companies and highlights their combined engineering capabilities.
Alnokhada was named through a nationwide competition that drew more than 3,000 entries. The winning submission came from Kim Alfonso, a lifting equipment engineer from the Philippines who previously worked with Drydocks World. The name comes from the Gulf Arabic word for a dhow captain, reflecting Dubai’s maritime heritage and the leadership associated with historic pearl diving expeditions.
The crane measures 138.5 metres in length with a 52 metre beam and 5.8 metre draft. Its lifting system pairs a 5,000-tonne main hook with a 600-tonne auxiliary hook capable of reaching 180 metres. Once operational, it will expand Drydocks World’s heavy lift fleet and support complex offshore, industrial and energy projects with greater capacity and efficiency.
DP World Group Chairman and CEO Sultan Ahmed bin Sulayem said Alnokhada reflects the UAE’s engineering ambition and strengthens support for major developments across key sectors. Drydocks World CEO Capt. Rado Antolovic said the crane marks a major step in the yard’s long-term growth and will play a central role in future offshore and onshore mega projects.
News Source: Dubai Media Office
