In conjunction with Finland-based Deltamarin,[2] they designed a ship called the "type-O heavy-lift vessel", later renamed Dockwise Vanguard following an in-house competition won by Gerry Sarlis and Anthony van Ginkel.

Loads can then be floated above her, and her ballast tanks empty, allowing her to lift and transport cargoes up to 110,000 tonnes, 50% more than the Blue Marlin.

[12] As of 2013, Dockwise Vanguard had orders for two more deliveries, the Goliat FPSO later in 2013, and the Aasta Hansteen spar platform in 2015, both being built by Hyundai Heavy Industries.

[18][needs update] Dockwise Vanguard is capable of providing an offshore dry-dock facility, allowing ships and floating oil rigs to be raised out of the water for inspection or maintenance without a break in production.

[12] This was projected to be of economic value to operators by allowing maintenance without towing the rigs back to dock and taking them out of service for months.