Our Services
International Heavy Lift Shipping
Float-On / Float-Off (FLO/FLO)
Our Float-On/Float-Off (FLO/FLO) service utilizes semi-submersible heavy-lift vessels designed to safely transport extremely large, heavy and delicate cargoes that cannot be lifted by cranes.
These ships fill their ballast tanks, submerging their cargo deck below the water’s surface, allowing floating units such as barges, dredges, or offshore structures to be maneuvered directly over the deck. Once positioned, the ship deballasts—raising itself and the cargo clear of the water in a single, gentle motion.
This method eliminates the need for high-capacity cranes and minimizes structural stress on valuable assets. This mode of loading/unloading provides exceptional safety, precision, and efficiency—making it the preferred solution for the world’s most complex marine transports.
Lift-On / Lift-Off (LO/LO)
Our Lift-On/Lift-Off service employs heavy-lift vessels equipped with high-capacity deck cranes capable of lifting heavy and oversized cargoes both from shore or directly from the water onto the ship. This method is ideal for industrial modules, machinery, vessels, and other structures.
Lift-On vessels typically arrive at any port worldwide fully equipped with their own cranes, and large inventory of rigging, making them self-sustained and capable of operating efficiently in remote or undeveloped locations.
With experienced heavy-lift crews and advanced engineering, these vessels offer maximum safety, precision, and independence—providing a versatile solution for complex project cargo operations anywhere in the world.
Roll-On / Roll-Off (RO/RO)
Our Roll-On/Roll-Off operations are performed using module carriers or heavy deck ships specifically designed to handle large, wheeled, or modular cargoes that can be transferred horizontally between the pier and the ship’s deck.
These vessels are equipped with specialized ballasting systems that allow the deck height to be precisely adjusted to match the pier elevation and maintained at a constant level during loading or discharge — even as the tide rises or falls.
Cargo may be transferred using Self-Propelled Modular Transporters (SPMTs), which roll the cargo directly onto the vessel, or by a method known as “skidding”, where hydraulic cylinders push the cargo along steel skidding rails lined with low-friction Teflon surfaces. This allows for the controlled movement of extremely heavy or oversized modules without the use of cranes.
The combination of advanced ballasting control, robust deck structure, and flexible transfer systems makes module carriers/deck ships the preferred solution for transporting large industrial modules, offshore components, and heavy plant structures safely and efficiently between land and sea.
U.S. Jones Act and U.S. Flag Shipping
International Heavy Lift Shipping Inc. is a U.S.-owned and U.S.-operated company specializing in transport operations that comply with the U.S. Jones Act and U.S. Flag cargo requirements. We provide fully compliant heavy-lift and project cargo transport services for shipments conducted between U.S. ports, across America’s inland river systems, and coast-to-coast between the East, Gulf, and West Coasts.
International Heavy Lift Shipping maintains partnerships and access to a fleet of Jones Act–compliant vessels, ensuring full legal compliance and operational reliability for domestic movements.
We also proudly support U.S. Government and Military logistics, providing U.S.-flag transport solutions for the movement of military and defense equipment, both within the United States and to allied nations abroad. Our operations meet the highest standards of security, compliance, and efficiency, serving the logistics needs of national defense and strategic industry.
By prioritizing the use of U.S.-built and U.S.-flag vessels, employing American mariners, and engaging U.S. shipyards and service providers, we actively contribute to sustaining American shipbuilding capacity, maritime jobs, and industrial resilience.