Features: - Tanker Operator

INDUSTRY - FOCUS ON GERMANY
concluded on coa terms. The company was
formed in 1998 by former Carl Buettner
executives. It originally owned seven vessels
up to about 23,000 dwt, but has since
concentrated on the larger size ranges,
leaving Buettner to compete in the smaller
market sector. The six 24,000 dwt tankers
built in Croatia are today Buettner's
largest vessels.
Jungmann described the 40,000 dwt to
43,000 dwt size as being in the middle of the
South Korean designed 37,000 dwt and
47,000 dwt types with good draught
capabilities of about 11 m on maximum dwt
cargo capacity (dwcc).
The Lindenau-built vessels are fitted with
MAN Diesel 4-stroke 8-cylinder medium
speed diesel engines from the manufacturer's
Augsburg works connected to a CP propeller
through a reduction gear. Becker rudders have
also been fitted on the larger vessels for extra
manoeuvrability.
Being fitted with the same engines results in
continuity of spares enabling the use of the
same maintenance and other systems used
across the entire fleet.
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Classed with GL, the vessels are Ice
Class E3, or E2, equivalent to
Finnish/Swedish Ice Class 1A, or 2A.
Eight are 1A and the other four have the
E2 (2A) notation.
Today GTS operates with six partners and
two managing partners. Jungmann explained
that the company's policy is to operate the
vessels in Europe or transatlantic and sell
them when they reach their second or third
surveys (10-15 years old). "They will still
be in excellent condition," he said.
When operating in Europe, the average
voyage time is only around 4.5 days,
including loading and discharge operations.
The normal economic service speed is 13.5
knots, although the vessels can steam at
15.5 knots if needed. They each carry 18
crew on board.
As for the pumping systems, the smaller
vessels have been fitted with Framo
Deepwell hydraulic pump systems, while
the larger vessels have Hamworthy
Svanehoj electro-pump systems fitted. Each
tank is coated and the vessels are fitted with
cargo heating systems.
Offen up and running
The first four of CP Offen's eight Hyundai
Mipo 37,000 dwt MRs have recently joined
Broström's fleet.
Ordered and technically managed by
recently formed Offen subsidiary CP Offen
Tankschiffreederei, the eight will be
commercially managed by Bröstrom following
the signing of a long term partnership
agreement with the Hamburg-based company
last year.
Before the first four were delivered,
Broström was already operating eight 37,000
dwt MRs in the European
market transporting refined petroleum
oil products.
All the new vessels were scheduled for
delivery by the end of this year from South
Korea. The first four picked up a cargo of
vegetable oil from Asia to reposition to
Europe. They will all fly the UK flag.
*Since this update, it has been announced
that Broström is to be taken over by Maersk.
Where this leaves CP Offen Tankschiffreederei’s
joint venture agreement is thus far unknown
(see page 2). TO
TANKEROperator � August/September 2008