The arrival of a new vessel is always a milestone, but the arrival of Invictus represents something more: the culmination of decades of operational data, strategic design, and a strong commitment to efficiency.


At Marcap, when we set out to build a vessel, we analyze the specific challenges our clients face in the Middle East—from shallow-water logistics to extreme ambient temperatures—and we design solutions to meet those realities.

With Invictus now safely docked in Abu Dhabi and ready for charter, we reflect on the journey of this remarkable vessel, from the initial design drawings developed at our headquarters to her successful construction at a shipyard in China and her smooth delivery to the UAE by Marcap Crew. 


A “Boutique” Approach to Heavy Logistics


Marcap has been operating Landing Craft Tanks (LCTs) since 1996. In 2017, we launched Marcap Mars, our first purpose-built LCT design. While the vessel was a commercial success, our technical team knew the design could be pushed further.

The market gap we identified was clear: EPC contractors and artificial island projects require vessels capable of carrying massive payloads without a corresponding increase in fuel consumption.


“We are not here to compete with mass operators who have fleets of 30 standard landing crafts,” explains Abdallah Chehab, Marcap’s Operations Director. “We operate like a boutique house. Our goal is to provide the market with something special—highly efficient and purpose-built.”

The result is Invictus: an evolution of the Marcap Mars design that carefully balances deadweight capacity with fuel efficiency.


Built for the Gulf


Invictus is a 65-meter landing craft, but her specifications reflect the distinct “Marcap touch”:


  • Superior Payload Efficiency: While many standard LCTs of this size offer a deadweight of approximately 1,300 metric tonnes, Invictus delivers close to 2,000 metric tonnes—while maintaining the fuel consumption profile of a smaller vessel.
  • Climate-Adaptive Engineering: Standard vessels often struggle in the Middle East’s extreme summer conditions. We redesigned the cooling and air-conditioning systems to perform reliably in ambient temperatures of up to 55°C, ensuring both machinery performance and crew safety.
  • Reliable Power: High-tier machinery was secured well in advance, including Yanmar main engines and Cummins auxiliary engines.
  • Rapid Liquid Cargo Transfer: To minimize downtime during offloading, the vessel is equipped with high liquid cargo discharge capabilities, delivering 150 m³/hr for fuel oil and 80 m³/hr for fresh water.


“We don’t build cheap; we build efficient,” notes A. Chehab. “Our objective is to carry more cargo while burning less fuel, directly supporting both our own and our clients’ sustainability goals.”


Quality Control in China


We returned to a trusted and tested partner shipyard in China—one known for its high safety standards and strong alignment with Marcap’s ESG principles.

Because Marcap retained full control of the design and had already procured key machinery, the construction process was streamlined. Despite the distance, our technical team maintained constant communication with the shipyard and travelled several times to the site to supervise the build firsthand. The shipyard’s reliability and professionalism allowed us to confidently oversee the project as the client.

The result was a vessel delivered fully in line with our workmanship standards and MLC (Maritime Labour Convention) compliance requirements, including ensuite cabins and dedicated recreation spaces for the crew. The project was also completed efficiently, with construction starting in October 2024 and finishing within one year.


A “Smooth” Delivery


Delivering a flat-bottomed landing craft across the ocean is a complex logistical task. However, for Marcap’s experienced crew, the voyage from China to Abu Dhabi was executed with precision.

The delivery relied on a comprehensive navigation and safety setup, including electronic charts with paper redundancies, VSAT communications, and daily weather routing. To further mitigate risk, the vessel was mobilized within a period of favorable weather across the total route, departing approximately one month after completion.

“We have done this many times, including deliveries from South America. Compared to that, bringing a vessel from China is a familiar operation for our team,” says A. Chehab.


Ready for Operations


Invictus is now in Abu Dhabi and fully prepared for deployment. She is ideally suited for EPC contractors, island construction projects, and heavy equipment logistics across the Arabian Gulf.

Together with her sister vessel, Veneris (currently preparing for delivery), Invictus reflects Marcap’s core pioneering philosophy: anticipating market needs—and building the solution before the request is made.