BIG DOUBLE HULL CRUDE CARRIER JOINS NORWAY'S FLEET OF TANKERS

April 5, 1993
Norway's Bergesen dy AS has taken delivery of a vessel billed as the world's largest double hull crude oil carrier. Built by NKK Corp. at its Tsu Works in Tokyo, the Berge Sigval tanker is rated at 306,430 dwt. Its service speed of about 16 knots places it among the world's fastest tankers. NKK said the Berge Sigval is only the third double hull very large crude carrier in the world. It is the first of two such VLCCs ordered from NKK by Bergesen. The second double hull tanker is

Norway's Bergesen dy AS has taken delivery of a vessel billed as the world's largest double hull crude oil carrier.

Built by NKK Corp. at its Tsu Works in Tokyo, the Berge Sigval tanker is rated at 306,430 dwt. Its service speed of about 16 knots places it among the world's fastest tankers.

NKK said the Berge Sigval is only the third double hull very large crude carrier in the world. It is the first of two such VLCCs ordered from NKK by Bergesen. The second double hull tanker is under construction for October delivery.

NKK also said Berge Sigval's double hull structure, designed to help prevent oil spills, represents advance compliance with an anticipated change in the International Maritime Organization's Marine Ocean Pollution Control (Marpol) Convention to be applied to all tankers taken under contract starting July 6.

Berge Sigval features include:

  • Separated oil and seawater tanks with piping systems to ensure maximum protection against ocean pollution. The double hull surrounds the oil tanks with enough breadth and depth for safety.

  • Ballast tanks with tar-epoxy coatings and glass fiber reinforced plastic ballast piping inside the tanks for corrosion prevention and cargo and residual oil pipes of highly corrosion resistant cast iron containing chromium.

  • Ladders and inspection corridors to allow precise inside tank inspections.

  • An oil offloading system improved with automatic stripping and a special bell mouth.

  • A generator, auxiliary main engine, and offloading equipment that can be monitored and remotely controlled from cathode ray tube displays and keyboards in the engine control and cargo control rooms.

  • Energy conservation equipment including an ecoturbo power generation system for in-house electricity supplies during voyages.

  • Emergency towing equipment, expected to be required by the Louisiana Offshore Oil Port.

Berge Sigval is the fifth vessel built by NKK for Bergesen. The previous four were LPG/ammonia carriers, the last of which was delivered last November.

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