The ship can raise itself 100ft above the water

The vessel, which is to be christened the Mayflower Resolution, has been purpose-built to install offshore wind farms.

The multi-million pound ship has left the Shanhaiguan shipyard and is due on Teesside in February.

The ship is owned by Middlesbrough-based Mayflower Energy, who are organising a launch party for the vessel when it arrives on Teesside.

The vessel was built in China rather than on Teesside to save money.

'Self-propelled'

It is being names Mayflower Resolution after one of the ships of Captain James Cook, who is from the area.

Paul Gibson, business development director for Mayflower Energy, said: "It has been designed to install offshore wind turbines, but can also do work for the oil and gas industries.

"The ship has a bow-shaped front, but is really a flat-bottomed vessel that will carry 70 people and 3,000-tonnes of cargo.

"The interesting thing about it is that it is self-propelled and can jack itself 35 metres out of the water.

"People will be able to see all this for themselves when it arrives here in February.

"It will be here for six days and will then go off for its first job in Europe.

"It is named after Captain Cook's Resolution, which was one of his first purpose-built vessels."