Mammoet
Dutch engineered heavy-lifting and transport company serving complex industrial, energy, infrastructure, and construction projects worldwide.
Last updated August 22, 2026
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Overview
Mammoet is a Dutch privately held company specializing in engineered heavy lifting, heavy transport, modular transportation, installation, and project logistics. Its work is aimed at moving, raising, positioning, and assembling objects whose size, weight, geometry, or location makes conventional transport and construction methods impractical. The company combines specialized equipment with engineering, route planning, project management, site operations, and tailor-made lifting or skidding methods. The business traces its origins to Utrecht in 1807, when Jan Goedkoop acquired a 140-tonne cargo vessel and established a maritime transport company known as Gebroeders Goedkoop. Over time, the enterprise expanded from cargo and passenger transport into tugboat, salvage, and eventually heavy-transport activities. A major turning point came in 1971, when Goedkoop merged with Van Wezel of Hengelo, a company focused on heavy transport and cranes. The combined business adopted the name Mammoet Transport. In 1972 it acquired Stoof Breda, then a leading Dutch engineered-lifting and transport company. In 1973 Mammoet became a subsidiary of Koninklijke Nederlandse Stoomboot-Maatschappij and shortened its name to Mammoet. Its maritime branch, Mammoet Shipping, was established the same year. Mammoet subsequently became part of Nedlloyd Group in 1981. In 2000 it was acquired by and merged with Van Seumeren Kraanbedrijf, a crane company founded in 1966. The maritime business was sold in 2001 to Spliethoff Group and renamed BigLift Shipping, leaving Mammoet focused more directly on heavy lifting and engineered transport. In 2020, Mammoet merged with United Kingdom-based ALE, creating what the reference material describes as the world's largest engineered heavy-lifting and transport company. Its equipment portfolio includes cranes, ring cranes, hydraulic and telescopic gantries, jacking and skidding systems, ballast tractors, hydraulic modular trailers, self-propelled modular transporters, weighing systems, and other customized transport solutions. Mammoet has also modified truck chassis, trailers, and cranes for specialized assignments, including custom gantry systems, shipping saddles, and project-specific load-handling equipment. The company serves petrochemical, mining and metals, civil construction, offshore and onshore wind, conventional power, nuclear power, and other energy markets. Cited projects include the transport of a 600-tonne tunnel-boring machine in London, work associated with construction of the London Array offshore wind farm, and the transport, lifting, and positioning of the Oder railway bridge on the German-Polish border in 2024. Mammoet established its first United States office in Rosharon, Texas, in 1989 and later expanded its American transport capabilities through the acquisition of Davenport and Sons. The company is described as operating through approximately 90 offices and branches with roughly 7,000 employees, although these figures may vary over time. Its holding-company headquarters are in Utrecht, while its European headquarters are in Schiedam.
History
Mammoet's history begins in Utrecht on 13 May 1807, when Jan Goedkoop founded a maritime enterprise after acquiring a 140-tonne cargo vessel. The original company, Gebroeders Goedkoop, handled maritime cargo and passenger transport. Its subsequent development established the maritime and engineering capabilities that later became associated with the Mammoet name. The company acquired its first tugboat in 1862. From 1920 onward, its maritime activities increasingly emphasized tug and salvage services. The business moved toward heavy transport and lifting through a series of structural changes in the twentieth century. In 1971, Goedkoop merged with Van Wezel of Hengelo, a Dutch company specializing in heavy transport and cranes. The resulting business was called Mammoet Transport. In 1972, Mammoet acquired Stoof Breda, which was then one of the Netherlands' leading engineered heavy-lifting and transport companies. In 1973, Mammoet Transport became a subsidiary of Koninklijke Nederlandse Stoomboot-Maatschappij, based in Amsterdam, and the company adopted the shorter name Mammoet. Mammoet Shipping was also founded in 1973, maintaining a maritime dimension alongside the developing heavy-lift operation. In 1981, KNSM and Mammoet became part of Nedlloyd Group. A decisive ownership and capability change occurred in 2000, when Mammoet was acquired by and merged with Van Seumeren Kraanbedrijf. Van Seumeren had been founded in 1966 and contributed substantial crane and heavy-lifting expertise. In 2001, Mammoet sold its maritime branch, Mammoet Shipping, to Spliethoff Group. That business was subsequently rebranded BigLift Shipping, while Mammoet concentrated more clearly on engineered lifting, oversized transport, and industrial project execution. Mammoet expanded in the United States during the late twentieth century. It opened its first United States office in Rosharon, Texas, in 1989 after winning a factory-to-foundation contract connected with the Red Dog Project in Alaska. It later acquired Davenport and Sons, an East Texas transport company, to strengthen access to self-propelled modular transporter operations in Texas and Louisiana. The North American business used and customized a variety of heavy-duty truck platforms and transport systems for project-specific work. The company continued to build an international operating footprint across Europe, the Americas, the Middle East, Africa, Asia, and Australia. Its work has included petrochemical facilities, mining and metals projects, civil construction, offshore and onshore wind, conventional power, and nuclear power. Examples cited in reference material include transporting a 600-tonne tunnel-boring machine in London and contributing to construction of the London Array offshore wind farm. In 2020, Mammoet merged with ALE, a United Kingdom-based engineered heavy-lifting company. The transaction combined two specialist businesses and created a larger global platform for complex lifting and transport. In March 2023, SHV Holdings decided to put Mammoet up for sale, with SHV management stating that the business would require very substantial future investment. Later that month, Mammoet received permission to sell its Russian subsidiary to Chinese conglomerate Tianjin Co. Ltd. The Russian transaction occurred after SHV halted new operations and investments in the country following the escalation of the Russo-Ukrainian war. Mammoet remains an active heavy-lifting and transport company. Reference material describes approximately 7,000 employees and about 90 offices and branches, with the holding company's head office in Utrecht and European headquarters in Schiedam. In 2024, the company transported, lifted, and positioned the Oder railway bridge on the German-Polish border, illustrating its continuing role in major infrastructure and engineered-installation projects.
- 2024
Oder railway bridge project
[1]Mammoet transports, lifts, and positions the Oder railway bridge on the German-Polish border.
- 2023
SHV begins sale process
[1]SHV Holdings decides to put Mammoet up for sale, citing the scale of required future investment.
- 2020
Merger with ALE
[1]Mammoet merges with UK-based ALE to create a larger global engineered-heavy-lifting and transport group.
- 2001
Maritime branch sold
[1]Mammoet Shipping is sold to Spliethoff Group and becomes BigLift Shipping.
- 2000
Merger with Van Seumeren Kraanbedrijf
[1]Mammoet is acquired by and merged with Van Seumeren Kraanbedrijf, strengthening its crane and heavy-lifting business.
- 1989
First United States office opens
[1]Mammoet establishes its first United States office in Rosharon, Texas.
- 1981
Joins Nedlloyd Group
[1]KNSM and Mammoet become part of Nedlloyd Group.
- 1973
Mammoet name adopted
[1]Mammoet Transport becomes a subsidiary of KNSM and adopts the shorter Mammoet name; Mammoet Shipping is also established.
- 1972
Stoof Breda acquired
[1]Mammoet acquires Stoof Breda, a leading Dutch engineered-heavy-lifting and transport company.
- 1971
Merger with Van Wezel
[1]Goedkoop merges with Van Wezel, a heavy-transport and crane specialist, forming Mammoet Transport.
Products and positioning
A global specialist in engineered heavy lifting, oversized transport, and complex project logistics for industrial, energy, infrastructure, and construction customers.
Industrial services
Engineered heavy lifting
Mammoet designs and executes lifts for exceptionally large or heavy components using cranes, ring cranes, hydraulic gantries, jacking systems, and other specialized equipment. Projects can include industrial modules, bridges, energy infrastructure, plant components, and construction elements. The service combines engineering studies, lift planning, equipment selection, site preparation, execution, and positioning.
Transport services
Heavy and abnormal-load transport
The company transports oversized and overweight cargo by road and across project sites. Solutions may involve custom trailers, ballast tractors, modular transport equipment, route surveys, permitting, convoy planning, and specialized load-support structures. Mammoet adapts the transport method to the cargo's dimensions, center of gravity, route constraints, and installation sequence.
Heavy transport equipment and services
Self-propelled modular transporters
Self-propelled modular transporters provide electronically controlled, multi-axle movement for very heavy loads in industrial plants, ports, infrastructure projects, and construction sites. Mammoet uses SPMT configurations as part of integrated transport and installation assignments, including movement over prepared surfaces and precise positioning at the destination.
Installation services
Jacking and skidding systems
Hydraulic jacking and skidding systems allow structures and heavy components to be raised, shifted horizontally, and accurately set into position. These techniques are used where cranes cannot operate efficiently or where a load must be moved through confined spaces. They form part of Mammoet's engineered approach to plant installation, bridge work, and infrastructure construction.
Lifting equipment and services
Customized cranes and gantries
Mammoet modifies and configures cranes, telescopic hydraulic gantries, and related lifting systems for specialized projects. Customization can address restricted access, unusual load geometry, limited ground capacity, or the need to lift and install components in stages. The company also develops project-specific transport aids such as shipping saddles and customized trailer arrangements.
Brand decisions
2023
Begin a sale process for MammoetStrategyBackground
SHV Holdings stated that Mammoet would require very substantial investment in the future.
Action taken
SHV Holdings decided to put Mammoet up for sale.
Aftermath
The decision initiated a potential ownership transition, although the provided sources do not establish a completed sale.
2023
Sell the Russian subsidiaryM&ABackground
After the escalation of the Russo-Ukrainian war, SHV stopped new operations and investments in Russia.
Action taken
Mammoet received Russian government permission to sell its Russian subsidiary to Chinese conglomerate Tianjin Co. Ltd.
Aftermath
The transaction reduced Mammoet's presence in the Russian market; the provided material does not specify the transaction value or completion details beyond the approval.
2020
Merge with ALEM&ABackground
Both Mammoet and ALE operated in engineered heavy lifting and complex transport.
Action taken
Mammoet merged with the UK-based ALE heavy-lifting company.
Aftermath
The combination formed a larger international engineered-heavy-lifting and transport platform.
2001
Sell the maritime branchStrategyBackground
Mammoet's ownership and business structure had changed following its merger with Van Seumeren Kraanbedrijf.
Action taken
Mammoet sold Mammoet Shipping to Spliethoff Group; the business was renamed BigLift Shipping.
Aftermath
Mammoet became more focused on engineered heavy lifting, cranes, oversized transport, and industrial project execution.
1973
Adopt the Mammoet corporate identityStrategyBackground
Following the merger with Van Wezel and the acquisition of Stoof Breda, Mammoet Transport became a KNSM subsidiary.
Action taken
The company shortened its name to Mammoet while establishing Mammoet Shipping as a maritime branch.
Aftermath
The Mammoet name became the identity associated with the company's subsequent heavy-lifting and transport activities.
Recent events
- 2024
Mammoet positions the Oder railway bridge[1]
Other
Mammoet transported, lifted, and positioned the Oder railway bridge on the German-Polish border.
- 2023
SHV Holdings puts Mammoet up for sale[1]
M&A
SHV Holdings announced a decision to explore the sale of Mammoet, with SHV chief executive Jeroen Drost citing the substantial future investment requirements of the business.
- 2023
Mammoet receives approval to sell its Russian subsidiary[1]
M&A · Regulation
Mammoet received permission from the Russian government to sell its Russian subsidiary to Chinese conglomerate Tianjin Co. Ltd. The decision followed SHV's suspension of new operations and investments in Russia after the escalation of the Russo-Ukrainian war.
- 2020
Mammoet merges with ALE[1]
M&A
Mammoet merged with United Kingdom-based engineered heavy-lifting company ALE, expanding the combined group's global capabilities and equipment base.
Sources4 sources
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