Features: - Tanker Operator

TECHNOLOGY – SHIP DESCRIPTION
Enhanced Hyundai
Mipo tanker design
enters service
HMD’s standard chemical/product tanker designs were ordered
with enhanced equipment for speed of turnaround.
At the end of June, Claus-Peter
Offen Tankschiffreederei (Offen
Tankers) took delivery of the
first of a series of eight 52,000
dwt MR chemical/product tankers built to
IMO III standard - CPO Korea.
As in the previous series of eight handysize
36,000 dwt IMO II/III type chemical/product
carriers, although based on a Hyundai Mipo
standard design, Offen Tankers included
several equipment upgrades. These were
primarily designed to speed up load/
discharge times.
For example, the cargo and ballast pumps
installed had higher capacities and two tank
cleaning machines per cargo tank were
installed. For faster discharge, the hydraulic
power pack’s capacity was increased.
The inert gas system capacity was also
increased and the cargo tanks were coated
with a heavy phenolic epoxy, which Offen
Tankers claimed offered better cargo
resistance thus allowing a wider variety to be
carried. A super stripping system was installed
for optimum discharge and to ensure that less
residues/slops were left in the cargo tanks
again for ease of cleaning.
The first series were built to Lloyd’s
Register’s Ice Class 1A and were fitted with
bow thrusters, but the later series dispensed
with ice class and with the bow thrusters.
Offen Tankers also opted for a fully
certificated dual ECDIS system ahead of the
IMO rules, thus eliminating the need for paper
charts and chose a fully integrated software
system for document control, planned
maintenance and purchasing. Offen Tanker’s
managing director Stephan Polomsky
maintained that he was keen to “do away”
with all the unnecessary paper work as far as
possible with all functions integrated into one
software system, which can be interrogated
both on board and ashore.
As for the crews’ accommodation, this was
also upgraded to a higher standard. For
example, for crew comfort, the vessels have
improved interiors, upgraded galleys plus a
gym and sauna fitted. As a further
enhancement to crew welfare, the
communications system included individual
crew email.
CPO Korea, the first of the larger series,
was named at Ulsan on 25th May and was
handed over to charterer ST Shipping and
Trading, Glencore’s shipping arm, on 30th
June. Three more sisters will join the fleet
next year and the final four in 2011.
The IMO III CPO
Korea seen leaving
the shipyard. Her
equipment was
upgraded to improve
load/discharge
times.
48
TANKEROperator November/December 2009